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Central State University

Central State University

Wilberforce, OH · Rural · 2,620 students
WebsiteCommon AppScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$13,096
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
24%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
43% typical
$33,267
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$45,606 typical
99%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
75% typical · not scored
Accredited by Higher Learning Commission
About

Central State University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Wilberforce, Ohio, is best known for its rich legacy of empowering underrepresented students and its designated status as an 1890 Land-Grant institution. Academically, the university is strongest in agricultural education, environmental engineering, business administration, and the fine arts, all supported by its innovative College of Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture (CESTA). Campus life is anchored in deep HBCU traditions, vibrant Greek life, and the renowned Invincible Marching Marauders band, fostering a close-knit, community-driven student experience. A key distinctive characteristic is its remarkable affordability, boosted by robust land-grant research initiatives that provide undergraduates with hands-on, paid research opportunities in sustainable agriculture and water resources.

Wikipedia:Central State University (CSU) is a public, historically black land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1887, it enrolls approximately 2,700 students across its five constituent colleges. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the University System of Ohio, and the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE).

Location
Wilberforce, OH, 45384-1004 · Rural campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
CMH · Columbus
56 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$8,058$10,058
Housing & food (on campus)$12,026$12,026
Books & supplies$1,200$1,200
Cost of attendance$21,929$23,929 est.
Average net price$13,096Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$10,058
In-state: $8,058
Housing & food (on campus)$12,026
Books & supplies$1,200
Cost of attendance$23,929 est.
In-state: $21,929
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $13,096
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$19,581
$30–48k
$7,161
$48–75k
$8,773
$75–110k
$10,343
$110k+
$10,187
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
24%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
13%
Back for yr 2
56%
Transferred
35%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
25% graduated · 37% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 37% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$27,173
10 yrs after entry$33,267
Debt
Median at graduation$30,739
Monthly payment$326
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$31k
90th percentile$46,868
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
99%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard
ACT midpoint
16

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Essay prompts

If Central State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 36%Women 64%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
16 : 1
Pell grant
53%
First-gen
40%
Family income
$22,475
Independent
13%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
21%
Race & ethnicity
White
10%
Hispanic
5%
Black
58%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Non-resident
9%
Unknown
14%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$27,173
After 10 yrs
$33,267
Business/Commerce, General358
Criminal Justice and Corrections288
Education, General147
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General60
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods48
Social Work27
Biology, General19
Psychology, General18
Journalism12
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness12
Special Education and Teaching11
Computer Science6
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering5
Chemistry5
Political Science and Government5
Fine and Studio Arts5
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$2M
Full-time faculty
100%
Faculty salary
$7,698/mo
Teaching spend
$4,813
per student
Federal loans
42%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — diverse fields
Research activity
Research college or university
$11M research spending
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, mostly part-time

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