Cleveland, Ohio Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Cleveland, Ohio shows: median public in-state tuition $32,638 (+492.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $52,131 (-4.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,534 (+30.5% vs U.S.) 31,334 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 10 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 31,334 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $32,638 (+492.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $52,131 (-4.0% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 85.9% (-2.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $25,956 (+160.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,534 (+30.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 64.9%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 87.8%
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Full profile payload including top-college lists and peer comparisons.
Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Cleveland, Ohio—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Ohio and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Cleveland vs Ohio & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, Ohio | $32,638 | $25,956 | $17,534 | 64.9% | 31,334 |
| Ohio (state median) | $7,491 | $12,090 | $14,004 | 46.4% | 429,559 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Cleveland, Ohio vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, Ohio | $52,131 | 85.9% | 87.8% | 2.4% | — | 71.4% | 0.42 |
| Ohio (state median) | $52,581 | 91.0% | 73.7% | 5.6% | — | 71.4% | 0.47 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Ohio (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, Ohio | $32,638 | $25,956 | $17,534 | 64.9% | 31,334 | $52,131 | 85.9% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $15,292 | 47.4% | 79,970 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Columbus | $21,028 | $23,812 | $15,292 | 47.4% | 79,970 | $53,018 | 89.9% |
| Cincinnati | $16,836 | $20,018 | $14,858 | 56.7% | 45,270 | $54,810 | 91.2% |
| Dayton | $14,822 | $15,415 | $12,403 | 41.7% | 28,536 | $62,518 | 92.4% |
| Toledo | $16,800 | $17,989 | $17,477 | 55.8% | 11,785 | $58,020 | 93.4% |
| North Canton | $7,492 | $10,897 | $24,500 | 47.6% | 9,831 | $59,764 | 95.7% |
| Akron | $13,292 | $13,946 | $22,375 | 35.4% | 9,482 | $46,600 | 89.7% |
| Lima | $11,682 | $10,848 | $12,716 | 47.0% | 5,370 | $60,409 | 91.5% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 87.2%, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 57.7%, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 50.6%, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 89.7%, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 85.9%, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 84.9%, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 most selective colleges in Cleveland, Ohio (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 36.5%, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 61.4%, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 91.3%, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $95,688, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $69,043, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $23,358, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $143,580, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $100,385, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $47,147, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $75,613, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,625, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $33,148, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $77,640, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $49,061, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $34,159, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $87,989, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,131, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $42,509, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $206,138, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $162,931, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $-25,596, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Cleveland, Ohio (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $14,764, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $29,208, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
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Rank 3, Net Price, $41,190, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Top 10 colleges in Cleveland, Ohio by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 92.1%, Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 87.8%, Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 70.3%, Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
In-state tuition: Cleveland, Ohio vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Cleveland, Ohio median in-state tuition is $32,638, +492.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Cleveland, Ohio vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Cleveland, Ohio is $17,534 (+30.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Cleveland, Ohio vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Cleveland, Ohio center around $52,131 (-4.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Cleveland, Ohio vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 85.9% at the median Cleveland, Ohio campus (-2.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Cleveland, Ohio median public in-state tuition is $32,638, about +492.1% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +480.2%.
Median graduate debt is $17,534 (+30.5% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Cleveland, Ohio are $52,131, about -4.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 85.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-2.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 87.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.4% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Cleveland State University (89.7%), Case Western Reserve University (85.9%), Cleveland Institute of Art (84.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Cleveland, Ohio is 64.9% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Cleveland?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 10 campuses in Cleveland, Ohio with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Cleveland?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Cleveland is $32,638 and median net price is $25,956. For Ohio overall, medians are $7,491 and $12,090; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Cleveland?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Cleveland is $52,131 vs $52,581 for Ohio and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Cleveland colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Cleveland is $17,534 vs $14,004 for Ohio and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Cleveland?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Case Western Reserve University (graduation) and Case Western Reserve University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Cleveland?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 10 campuses in Cleveland, Ohio, 2 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College and Meryma'at Barber College.
Sources & related
- Ohio college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON