Head-to-head comparison
Cleveland State University vs Cedarville University: which has better ROI?
Option A Cleveland, OH
Cleveland State University
- Net price / year
- $14,764
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,131
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Option B Cedarville, OH
Cedarville University
- Net price / year
- $24,468
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,443
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
Cedarville University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,872 in 13.8 years versus 15.7 years at Cleveland State University, on median earnings of $55,443 vs $52,131 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cleveland State University | Cedarville University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,764 | $24,468 |
| Total net cost | $59,056 | $97,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,131 | $55,443 |
| Median debt | $21,797 | $20,937 |
| Payback | 15.7 yrs | 13.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $16,364 | $43,788 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cleveland State University or Cedarville University?
Cleveland State University, at $14,764 a year after aid versus $24,468 — a gap of $9,704 a year, or $38,816 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Cleveland State University or Cedarville University graduates earn more?
Cedarville University graduates report a median $55,443 ten years after entry, $3,312 more than the $52,131 at Cleveland State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Cleveland State University or Cedarville University?
Cedarville University: its completers carry a median $20,937 in federal loans versus $21,797 at Cleveland State University, a difference of $860. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Cedarville University, against 51% at Cleveland State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.