Central State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Wilberforce, Ohio. It enrolls 2,620 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes4
Value44
Affordability85
Selectivity1
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98.6%, Central State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Central State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
10.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Central State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,096 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,096
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
53%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,058
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,058
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,026
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,026
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,400
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,929
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,581
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,161
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,773
$75,001 – $110,000
$10,343
Over $110,000
$10,187
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$30,739Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$46,86890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,016
↓ $16,723
No Pell $9,500
↓ $21,239
Dependent students $13,544
↓ $17,195
Independent students $13,877
↓ $16,862
Female students $14,058
↓ $16,681
Male students $12,620
↓ $18,119
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($30,739), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
25% of full-time students who enrolled at Central State University graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
25%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central State University earn a median of $33,267 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$33,267
Earning > $25K
55%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$28,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$26,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$30,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$33,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 39% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Central State University is home to 2,620 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,620
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 57.8%1,513
White 9.9%259
International 9.0%236
Hispanic 4.8%125
Other 3.6%95
Asian 0.7%19
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeWilberforce, Ohio
Housing
Mostly residential1,437 beds on campus
Adult Learners
49%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Central State University offers
a varied set of programs:
25 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,393
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.1M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,173
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
113 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
29
26%
$84,952
Associate Professors
37
33%
$70,834
Assistant Professors
40
35%
$57,313
Instructors
7
6%
$46,656
Pros & Cons of Central State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Central State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central State University.
Is Central State University hard to get into?
Central State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Central State University?
Central State University has an acceptance rate of 98.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Central State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Central State University is $13,096 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $33,267 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,096 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central State University known for?
Central State University is best known for its programs in Business, Criminal Justice, Education, General. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central State University are $33,267, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central State University accredited?
Yes. Central State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Central State University?
Central State University enrolls 2,620 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central State University?
Central State University graduates 25% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central State University a public or private college?
Central State University is a Public institution.
Where is Central State University located?
Central State University is located in Wilberforce, Ohio.
What programs does Central State University offer?
Central State University offers 25 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Criminal Justice, Education, General.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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