Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Cleveland State graduates experience steady earnings growth from early to mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $44,625 six years after enrollment to $49,061 at eight years and reach $52,131 at ten years.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $21,797 in debt with typical earnings.
Cleveland State graduates carry a median debt of $21,797, falling slightly below the peer median of $21,105 by $692. Debt levels range from $6,000 at the 25th percentile to $26,000 at the 75th percentile, showing moderate variation in borrowing patterns.
Cleveland State University delivers above-average return on investment, ranking at the 62.6th percentile nationally. The university generates $5,869 in earnings beyond expectations based on student demographics and program characteristics, placing it at the 76.4th percentile on this value-added measure.
Approximately 23.2% of Cleveland State graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry ...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Engineering programs drive Cleveland State's strongest earnings outcomes, with Chemical Engineering ($77,355) and Mechanical Engineering ($71,895) leading institutional performance. Computer Science graduates earn competitive $68,280 salaries, while business fields like Actuarial Science ($63,587) and nursing programs ($61,976) provide solid middle-income pathways.
The diversity of high-earning programs across technical, business, and health fields supports varied student interests while maintaining strong return on investment. Psychology, despite lower individual earnings ($36,874), serves the university's largest program enrollment and provides foundation for graduate study.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution shows meaningful variation reflecting diverse program outcomes and career paths. The gap between 25th percentile ($33,018) and 75th percentile ($74,241) creates a 2.2:1 ratio, indicating moderate spread compared to highly selective institutions.
