Central State University

Wilberforce, OH · Midwest

Known forGenerous aidLow average costEnrollment up 52% since fall 2014

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

Central State admits about 10 in 10 applicants (99%). That puts it in the "Broadly accessible" tier, more selective than 5% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

99%

acceptance rateBroadly accessible

Applied

2,810

Admitted

2,771

Yield

19%

of admits enroll

Applications −53% since fall 2014 · admit rate 38% → 99%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,620 undergrads, where 53% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

2.6K

undergrads · larger than 65% of colleges

Diversity index

0.62

Pell Grant

53%

above the median

First generation

40%

above the median

Rural, near a cityNCAA D-II · Southern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad

Undergrads +52% since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business/Commerce, General (34% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $4,813 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $4,527 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $19.8K less than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $11,398 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $22,014 in-state / $24,014 out-of-state.

80%

$4.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $19.8K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $22,014 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 80% of full price

Federal loans

42%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −77% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $33,267 ten years after enrolling, more than at 5% of colleges; 28% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 0.5 years of that salary.

28%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$33.3K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$30.7K

≈ $326/month for 10 years

Retention

56%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 22% → 23% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 19% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 77%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 53% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 38% to 99%.

Cost
Falling
−77% after inflation
Applications
Shrinking
−53%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 38% → 99%
Diversity
Reported

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Western New Mexico University

2K undergrads

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Western Oregon University

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
State laws on public colleges
State legislatures (statutes read and summarized by hand) · In effect since June 27, 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-04
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
Central State University (2026)
Central State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 201690 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything