by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Cleveland State University retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
Freshmen retention rate refers to the percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year.
With 70% students making it past their freshmen year, Cleveland State University has freshmen retention rates near the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Ohio, the average is 69.84%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Cleveland State University | 70% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Ohio | 69.84% |
Of the 2187 students in the class of 2023, how many completed their degree on time?
Four years after beginning their degree, 42% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 54% of the students had graduated and after eight years 57% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical Cleveland State University graduation rate 54%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1675 | 42% |
| Six Years | 2187 | 54% |
| Eight Years | 89 | 3% |
| Did Not Complete | 1752 | 43% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1752 students or 43% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1752 students who did not complete their degree?
43 are still enrolled.
1143 transferred to another institution.
Cleveland State University lost contact with the remaining 582 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 43 | 2.5% |
| Transferred | 1143 | 65.2% |
| Dropped Out | 582 | 33.2% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 55% |
| Black / African-American | 26% |
| Hispanic | 38% |
| International | 56% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 36% |
| Unknown | 56% |
| White | 55% |
Traditional first-time, full-time students under 25 tend to graduate in four years far more often than other students. Some schools serve mostly traditional students while others serve more 'non-traditional' students — part-timers or those returning after time away — who commonly take longer to finish.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at Cleveland State University are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Looking at the individual cohorts below may tell you more than the overall graduation rate alone.
First-time / full-time students at Cleveland State University represent 49.30% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cleveland State University graduation rate was 48%, and by the eight year mark, 51% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | Cleveland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 30% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 48% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 51% | 47.82% |
980 first-time / full-time students or 49% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
13 are still enrolled.
640 transferred to another institution.
Cleveland State University lost contact with the remaining 327 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 13 | 1.33% |
| Transferred | 640 | 65.31% |
| Dropped Out | 327 | 33.37% |
First-time / part-time students at Cleveland State University represent 0.92% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cleveland State University graduation rate was 22%, and by the eight year mark, 22% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | Cleveland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 5% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 22% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 22% | 23.72% |
29 first-time / part-time students or 78% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
18 transferred to another institution.
Cleveland State University lost contact with the remaining 11 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 18 | 62.07% |
| Dropped Out | 11 | 37.93% |
Returning / full-time students at Cleveland State University represent 32.87% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cleveland State University graduation rate was 67%, and by the eight year mark, 69% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | Cleveland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 67% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 69% | 55.07% |
416 non first-time / part-time students or 31% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
290 transferred to another institution.
Cleveland State University lost contact with the remaining 120 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.44% |
| Transferred | 290 | 69.71% |
| Dropped Out | 120 | 28.85% |
Returning / part-time students at Cleveland State University represent 16.91% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the Cleveland State University graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 52% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | Cleveland State University | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 41% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 49% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
327 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
8 are still enrolled.
195 transferred to another institution.
Cleveland State University lost contact with the remaining 124 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 8 | 2.45% |
| Transferred | 195 | 59.63% |
| Dropped Out | 124 | 37.92% |
