Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Central State University #1111 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Central State University sits in the 27.9 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — the institution's strongest pillar. Azimuth ranks Central State University #371 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting broad enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students.
Azimuth ranks Central State University #1111 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Wilberforce, OH, Central State University enrolls roughly 2,620 undergraduates. Retention is 55.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 22.8%, reflecting the institution's commitment to supporting students through degree completion. Where Central State University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Central State University #1383 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, and they earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central State University in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong financial outcome reflects the institution's concentration in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable, well-paying careers. Access and affordability round out the composite. Central State University serves 52.7% Pell-eligible students and 40.0% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it as a meaningful access point for students from under-resourced backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Central State University in the 75.0 percentile for access and the 57.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking a public institution with demonstrable long-term earnings strength and broad enrollment of low-income and first-generation learners, Central State University offers a reliable pathway to financial stability after graduation.
Central State University's published cost of attendance is $21,929. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $19,581, middle-income families pay around $8,773, and higher-income families pay approximately $10,187. Azimuth ranks Central State University #605 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,739. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,178; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $42,843, median federal debt of $30,739 projects to a monthly payment of about $347 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Central State University is a strong fit for students seeking a public university experience in OH with a focus on business and applied fields, particularly those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds looking for an accessible pathway to stable career outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, placing Central State University in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 25.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a high share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 52.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.0% are first-generation — with completion rates that track regional norms. Published cost of attendance is $10,187, with need-based aid available to close gaps for qualifying students. Fit depends on program alignment — Business represents 32% of degrees — and regional labor market positioning. Students whose interests align with these applied fields will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Central State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Delta State University Similar quality tier (#30573 ranked) | MS | 100% | $41,991 | #30573 | Compare |
Southwest Minnesota State University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#30538 ranked) | MN | 62% | $51,342 | #30538 | Compare |
Southern University At New Orleans Similar quality tier (#30536 ranked) | LA | 79% | $34,042 | #30536 | Compare |
University Of Alaska Southeast Similar quality tier (#32725 ranked) | AK | 63% | $48,475 | #32725 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Superior Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29997 ranked) | WI | 93% | $49,606 | #29997 | Compare |
Social Work
14 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
112 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
143 graduates
Psychology, General
26 graduates
Journalism
21 graduates
Central State University's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice, Education, General, Psychology, General, and Journalism.
The institution offers 16 programs across 0 ranked fields, serving roughly 428 students annually. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional pathways.
Social Work leads with median earnings of $47,853 four years after enrollment across 14 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice with $46,914 and 143 graduates. Business/Commerce, General graduates earn $44,662, while Psychology, General and Journalism round out the highest-earning programs with $39,628 and $36,311 respectively.
These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand career fields immediately after completion. The program portfolio emphasizes practical, career-aligned preparation across business administration, accounting, management, and related applied disciplines.
This concentration in Business (representing 32% of graduates) alongside Education and Engineering positions Central State University as a regional institution focused on workforce readiness and employment outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional labor-market demand and career stability.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Central State University's published cost of attendance is $21,929. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $19,581, middle-income families pay around $8,773, and higher-income families pay approximately $10,187.
Azimuth ranks Central State University #605 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,739.
Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,178; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $42,843, median federal debt of $30,739 projects to a monthly payment of about $347 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Central State University earn median 4-year earnings of $42,843, placing Central State University in the 2.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central State University in the 25.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to OH's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential). Azimuth ranks Central State University #1383 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Central State University's program portfolio centers on Business, which shapes the institution's earnings profile. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 143 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,662, running 0.7× the national benchmark for the field.
Criminal Justice enrolls 112 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $46,914, at 0.8× benchmark. Education, General and Psychology, General round out the largest cohorts, with Psychology, General graduates earning $39,628 at 0.8× benchmark.
Journalism graduates earn $36,311, also at 0.6× benchmark. This concentration in Business and related applied fields anchors the institution's long-term financial outcomes and positions graduates for stable career pathways aligned with regional labor-market demand.
