Cleveland State University: Admissions 2026-27, Scholarships, Rankings, Courses & Fees

Cleveland State University is a public research university in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, established in 1964 by the Ohio General Assembly. It offers more than 175 academic programmes through nine colleges at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Its Public Policy programme is ranked #56 globally in the US News Best Global Universities 2025 - 2026 subject rankings. Popular choices among Indian students include MS Computer Science, MS Electrical Engineering and MBA.

• US News Best Global Universities: #209 in USA (2025–2026)
• Acceptance Rate: 85% (estimated)
• Intakes: Fall and Spring
• PG Tuition: USD 18,821/year (INR 18.02 Lakhs) for out-of-state students
• International Students: 981, around 6% of total enrolment

Cleveland State University is waiving the USD 40 international application fee through Fall 2027, reducing the initial application cost for international students. Eligible Indian students on an F-1 visa can receive 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation, with a further 24-month STEM extension for eligible programmes.

The university also offers merit-based assistantships and tuition scholarships of up to USD 12,000 for competitively admitted international students. 

Popular Courses and Fees at Cleveland State University 2027

Cleveland State University charges international students the out-of-state graduate rate of USD 18,543 in tuition plus USD 278 in mandatory fees per year, applied uniformly across most MS programmes. Standard MS degrees run two years across four semesters, while the Monte Ahuja Online Accelerated MBA is a compressed 30-credit programme completed within one calendar year.

Top 10 Postgraduate Programs at Cleveland State University

The table below lists ten popular Cleveland State University postgraduate programmes for Indian applicants, with total programme fees and entry benchmarks aligned to the Indian grading scale.

Top 5 Undergraduate Programs at Cleveland State University

Undergraduate programmes at Cleveland State University run four years across eight semesters, with out-of-state tuition applied to Indian applicants.

Insider note: MS Computer Science and MS Electrical Engineering pull the largest share of Indian graduate applications each cycle because both carry STEM-designated status that unlocks the 36-month OPT window in the United States.

Also check: Cleveland State University Fees and Cost of Living Guide

Cleveland State University Admission 2027

Cleveland State University admits international students to two intakes each academic year, with Fall serving as the primary window for Indian applicants and Spring as a smaller secondary intake open to most programmes.

Planning note: Indian applicants should place the WES or ECE credential evaluation order at least eight weeks before the deadline because Indian transcripts require attested marksheets and degree certificates, which typically add three to four weeks to the standard evaluation timeline.

Also check: Cleveland State University Admissions Guide for Indian Students

Cleveland State University Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027

Cleveland State University applies uniform academic and English-language thresholds for Indian applicants at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Postgraduate Requirements

• Academic: Bachelor’s degree with 60% to 65% marks or 3.0 GPA equivalent from a recognised Indian university
• English: TOEFL iBT 78 (17 in each section, legacy 0-120 scale), IELTS Academic 6.0 (5.0 in each band), PTE 50 or Duolingo English Test 105
• Credential verification: WES, ECE or TEC evaluation of all Indian transcripts
• Engineering exception: TOEFL subscores of Reading 20, Listening 21, Writing 17 and Speaking 20 apply to engineering programmes

Undergraduate Requirements

• Academic: Class 12 with 60% or higher from CBSE, ICSE or a recognised State board
• English: TOEFL iBT 78, IELTS Academic 6.0, PTE 50 or Duolingo 105

Note: English test waivers may be available when an applicant’s previous education was fully taught in English at a recognised institution. Indian applicants who studied in English-medium CBSE, ICSE or IB schools should confirm their eligibility with the International Admissions Office and obtain a waiver confirmation before booking an English-language test.

Cleveland State University Acceptance Rate 

Cleveland State University has an estimated undergraduate acceptance rate of 85%, based on aggregated third-party admissions data from recent application cycles. The university does not publish a single official acceptance rate, so the 85% figure should be treated as an estimate rather than an official institutional rate.

Reality check: A high acceptance rate does not mean admission is automatic. Indian applicants still need to meet the university’s academic, English-language and financial requirements, including any required WES evaluation, minimum CGPA, engineering-specific English score requirements and proof of sufficient funds for one full year of tuition and living expenses.

Also check: High Acceptance Rate Universities in USA 2026 for Indians

Cleveland State University Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 

The total annual cost for Indian graduate students at Cleveland State University is USD 39,488 (INR 37.81 Lakhs), including out-of-state tuition and standard living expenses based on the university’s published cost-of-attendance estimates.

Cleveland State University Tuition Fees for Indian Students 2027

Tuition is charged at the out-of-state rate for all international applicants, with fees banded across 12 to 18 credits per semester.

Monthly Cost of Living in Cleveland for Indian Students

Cleveland ranks among the more affordable major United States cities for international students, and the university publishes its own cost-of-attendance breakdown.

Insider note: Off-campus one-bedroom apartments within walking distance of the downtown campus rent for USD 850 to USD 1,200 per month, and sharing a two-bedroom unit with another Indian student typically brings monthly rent down to USD 550 to USD 700 per person.

Also check: Study in USA Guide for Indian Students

Cleveland State University Campus, Facilities and Student Life

Cleveland State University occupies an 85-acre urban campus in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, integrated with the city’s public transport, hospital and business corridors.

• Location and transport: Campus sits on the RTA HealthLine bus rapid transit route, connecting directly to University Circle and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
• Housing: On-campus residence halls house first-year international students; monthly rent runs USD 700 to USD 1,100 including meal plan
• Facilities: Recreation Center with pool and climbing wall, Michael Schwartz Library holding over 1.5 million volumes, and dedicated engineering research labs at the Fenn College of Engineering
• Indian community: Active Indian Students Association hosts Diwali, Holi, and Republic Day events, with an on-campus Hindu prayer space and Halal and vegetarian dining options in campus canteens

What Indian students say: Rent in Cleveland is generally more affordable than in major East Coast cities, while Indian students can find groceries at Patel Brothers in nearby Mayfield Heights. Winters from November to March can be cold, so students should budget for proper insulated clothing before arriving.

Cleveland State University Scholarships 

Cleveland State University offers three main financial support routes for international students, none of which are exclusively reserved for Indian nationals but all of which are accessible to strong Indian applicants.

Planning note: Graduate assistantships at Cleveland State University are competitive and are awarded by individual departments rather than the international office. Indian applicants seeking a tuition waiver through an assistantship should contact their departmental graduate coordinator with their CV and research interests soon after receiving the admission offer.

Also check,

• Popular Scholarships to Study in USA 
• Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students 2027
• Fully Funded Scholarships for Indian Students in USA

Cleveland State University Rankings 2027

Cleveland State University is a broad-access public research university in the United States, with its strongest global recognition reflected in its U.S. News subject rankings for Public Policy.

US News subject rankings place Cleveland State University’s Public Policy programme at #56 globally, Social Work at #142 and Education at #147, sharpening the picture of departmental strength beyond the modest institutional aggregate. QS subject rankings mark Medicine at #775 globally and #53 in the USA.

Key insight: For Indian applicants, Cleveland State University’s public university status may meet the eligibility criteria of many education loan providers, while eligible programmes follow the standard F-1 student visa pathway. For career planning, students should also consider the STEM designation and programme-level reputation, as these can be more relevant than overall university rankings for some roles.

Also check: Cleveland State University Rankings 

Cleveland State University Placements and Career Outcomes 

Cleveland State University sits in a strong regional employment corridor anchored by healthcare, financial services and manufacturing firms across Northeast Ohio.

• Median starting salary: USD 55,000 to 70,000 per year for MS graduates in engineering and computer science (market median for the Cleveland-Akron metro; not officially disclosed by the university)
• Median MBA salary: USD 75,000 to 90,000 per year for Monte Ahuja MBA graduates (market median; not officially disclosed)
• Employer sectors: Healthcare systems, banking, insurance, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and municipal government
• Career support: Career Services offers resume review, on-campus recruiter events and F-1 CPT and OPT guidance for international students
• Alumni: Cleveland State graduates are employed across Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Progressive Insurance, KeyBank and Sherwin-Williams according to alumni surveys

Insider note: Indian STEM graduates from Cleveland State more often land first roles with Ohio-based mid-market employers than with the largest coastal tech firms, so applicants targeting Silicon Valley placement should treat Cleveland as a two-step pathway using OPT for local experience first.

Also check,

• US Student Visa Requirements: Cost, Application & Process
• US Student Visa Types: Differences Between J, M and F Visa

Cleveland State University’s downtown Cleveland location offers access to healthcare, technology and business opportunities. Its international application fee waiver through Fall 2027 also reduces the initial application cost. Indian students can consider CSU for affordable STEM and MBA programmes, with eligible STEM graduates able to qualify for the 36-month OPT period.

CSU may not suit students focused on top global rankings, elite research or coastal tech markets. The total two-year investment is INR 74 Lakhs, while median MS starting salaries are USD 65,000, although actual outcomes vary by programme and student.