Undergraduate Admissions

Campus Visits and Contact Information

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers information sessions and campus tours each weekday and on select Saturdays of each month. Information sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, with the campus tour immediately following. Schedule your visit here.

Individualized admissions appointments are also available for prospective first-year and transfer students. We recommend that prospective students and parents call ahead to schedule their visit with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, allowing adequate time to receive a map to campus and parking information.

Please visit our Web site for a comprehensive list of visit days and to schedule your visit.  Walk-in appointments may also be available. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions should be your first point of contact for information to assist you in making your college decision and in applying to Cleveland State University. You can reach the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by calling 216-687-5411 or 1-888-CSUOHIO. Campus Location: Welcome Center, Room 101, Euclid Commons.

Admission to Cleveland State

First-Time Freshman Applicants

First-time freshman applicants are those individuals who have not completed any college-level course work after earning a high school diploma or its equivalency (GED). The following materials constitute a complete application from a first-time freshman applicant:

1. A completed Cleveland State application (available online)
2. An official copy of the student’s grade transcript sent directly from the high school, or hand delivered in a sealed envelope, showing the applicant’s graduation date
   • Students currently enrolled in high school are encouraged to apply early in their senior year prior to graduation. They may be admitted conditionally until their final, official transcripts showing the high school graduation date are received at Cleveland State.
   • If the applicant did not graduate from high school, an official copy of the student’s GED scores must be sent directly from the Ohio Department of Education (or the state that has issued the diploma) in addition to an official copy of the high school transcript.
3. Official scores from either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), if the applicant graduated from high school fewer than five (5) years prior to the application date.
   • Note that these scores may be sent directly from the testing agencies (ACT School Code 3270, SAT School Code 1221) or included on the student’s official high school transcript sent directly from the high school.
4. A one-time, non-refundable, $30 undergraduate application processing fee.

First-time freshmen applicants must meet the following criteria for admission:

• Completion of 13 units of the state-specified, core curriculum in high school
  • 4 units of English and
  • 3 units each of mathematics, social science, and natural science.
    (additionally, 2 units of foreign language and 1 unit of visual/performing arts are strongly recommended)
• Attainment of at least a 2.3 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in high school
• Mandatory completion of the ACT or SAT with a minimum score of 16 or 770 (combined critical reading and mathematics), respectively. Students taking the new SAT should earn a minimum combined score of 770 on the math and critical reading sections.  Writing sections are not considered.

Students must meet the minimum criteria stated above for admission to Cleveland State University. Students not qualifying for admission may complete specified course work at a regionally accredited, two-year or four-year college and reapply to Cleveland State as a transfer student.

Each of our academic colleges has specific admissions guidelines for direct entrance into the colleges. Students not meeting these requirements may be considered for pre-admission into one of our academic colleges. In some circumstances, students may be admitted into University Studies.

Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants must earn at least a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) at all previous colleges and universities combined in order to be admitted to Cleveland State University as a degree-seeking student.

A complete transfer application includes the following materials:

1. A completed Cleveland State application (available online).
2. An official copy of the applicant’s grade transcript sent directly from all regionally accredited colleges or universities attended.
   • Note that applicants who have earned fewer than 12 semester hours of college credit must also send an official high school transcript directly from the high school. Applicants who graduated fewer than five years prior to their application date must also submit official ACT or SAT scores. This information will be considered in the admission process.
   • Students currently enrolled in another college or university at the time of their application may be admitted conditionally to Cleveland State based on their previous academic performance pending receipt of their final official transcript.
   • Applicants who are unable to obtain an official transcript from a previous college/university because of financial or other obligations may not be considered for transfer to Cleveland State.
   • Failure to list attendance at a college or university on the admissions application may be grounds for admission revocation or dismissal from the university.
3. A one-time, non-refundable, $30 undergraduate application processing fee.
4. Undergraduate Admissions also recommends that transfer applicants send an official copy of their high school transcript in order to provide documentation of meeting Cleveland State’s foreign language requirement and support Financial Aid eligibility.

Each of our academic colleges has specific admissions guidelines for direct entrance into the colleges. Students not meeting these requirements may be considered for pre-admission into one of our academic colleges. In some circumstances, students may be admitted into University Studies.

Transfer Guides, Articulation Agreements, and Dual Admissions Agreements

Transfer guides, outlining specific courses and curricula for students wishing to transfer to Cleveland State from Cuyahoga Community College, Lakeland Community College, and Lorain County Community College, and others, can be viewed online here.

Special Articulation Agreements and Dual Admissions Agreements with the three local community colleges above and additional colleges/universities can be requested from Undergraduate Admissions or found online at the Web address above.

Blanket Transfer Credit

A transfer student from a regionally accredited community college or a junior college who has achieved an Associate of Arts degree will qualify for blanket transfer credit of 60 to 64 semester credits provided that all credits used for that degree have been earned at a regionally accredited institution and the degree curriculum contains the following distribution of credits:

See also Acceptance of Transfer Credit in the Catalog Statement

Special Catalog Rights for Transfers from Tri-C, LCC, or LCCC

Under certain circumstances a student who transfers to Cleveland State University from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), Lakeland Community College (LCC), or Lorain County Community College (LCCC) has special catalog rights.

If a student has earned an Associate of Arts degree from one of the three area colleges, and if at least 75 percent of the completed course work was chosen from the Cleveland State transfer guides in effect at the time of entering the community college, the student may meet the curricular requirements as stated in the Cleveland State University Undergraduate Catalog either for the academic year in which admission was granted to Cleveland State or for the academic year in which the student was admitted to the community college. This is only if the Cleveland State Catalog was issued no earlier than two years prior to the student’s admission to the university.  Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor for further details.

Distance Learning Courses

A maximum of 10 semester credits may be granted for distance learning (previously known as correspondence courses) completed through a regionally accredited college or university or the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES).

Advanced Placement Credit
College-Level Examination Board
International Baccalaureate

Cleveland State University grants credit for qualifying scores earned in the Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate examinations. For more information, go to University Regulations  .

Transfer Module Grid

Returning Cleveland State Students in Good Academic Standing

Returning Cleveland State students who have not attended another university since their CSU enrollment, and have not enrolled at Cleveland State for three or more semesters (including summer), may re-enroll by using the online Return from Leave of Absence Form or contacting All-in-1 Enrollment Services. A student who interrupts his or her enrollment in the university for three or more consecutive semesters (including summer) must meet the university graduation requirements of the catalog in effect when she or he re-enrolls.

Transient Students

Students are eligible to enroll at Cleveland State University as undergraduate transient students for one semester, typically summer, if they:

1. are currently undergraduate degree-seeking students at another college or university,
2. are in good academic standing at their home institution,
3. have obtained written permission from their home institution to attend Cleveland State on a transient basis, and
4. have successfully completed any applicable prerequisites for the course(s) in which they wish to enroll.

Transient students are NOT required to complete an application for admission through Undergraduate Admissions, but instead they complete the Transient Student Enrollment Request through the University Registrar Web site: http://www.csuohio.edu/admissions/guest/transient.html.  Therefore, the following conditions apply to transient students:

• registration as a transient student does not imply acceptance to the university as a degree-seeking student,
• financial aid is not available for transient students,
• Cleveland State University academic department approval must be obtained in order to register for 300-and 400-level (junior- and senior-level) courses,
• transient students are subject to the same registration (add/drop) and academic standing policies that apply to degree-seeking students, and
• fees are not charged for placement examinations.

Note that there is no application processing fee required.

Non-Degree Applicants

Non-degree applicants are those who wish to take undergraduate courses or earn a certificate at Cleveland State for personal interest or professional growth, but are not interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree program.

Non-degree applicant restrictions:

• Non-degree applicants must have graduated from high school at least one year prior to their enrollment.
• International students on an F-1 visa are not eligible to be non-degree students.

Non-degree students are:

• Scheduled to register for courses after degree-seeking students.
• Required to have departmental approval before registering for upper-level courses (numbered at the 300 and 400 levels).
• Not considered to be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program.
• Ineligible for student financial aid.

When non-degree students are ready to pursue a bachelor’s degree program, they must reapply to Cleveland State as a degree-seeking student through Undergraduate Admissions at which time an application fee is required.

The Cleveland State application for admission (available online) is the only non-degree application requirement. Please note that grade transcripts are not required of non-degree applicants but would be required at time of application for a degree-seeking program.

Post-baccalaureate Applicants

Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State or another regionally accredited college or university may continue to take undergraduate courses by applying for post-baccalaureate status. Reasons for taking additional undergraduate courses may be to:

• earn a teaching license,
• to complete a certificate program,
• to prepare for graduate or professional school,
• to earn a second bachelor’s degree, or
• for personal interest.

Students earning a second bachelor’s degree:

• have the individual Cleveland State colleges determine course requirements and college/departmental residency requirements, and
• must meet the university residency requirement of 30 semester hours of course work, including a minimum of 24 credits from upper-division courses

Some post-baccalaureate applicants are eligible for student loans, but others are not. Post-baccalaureate students interested in finding out if they are eligible for financial aid should contact All-in-1 Enrollment Services to receive the most up-to-date information.

A complete post-baccalaureate application file includes:

1. A completed Cleveland State application (available online).
2. An official copy of the applicant’s grade transcript sent directly from the regionally accredited college or university that granted the bachelor’s degree showing the date of receipt of the degree.Transcripts from any other universities also attended are not required.
   • Applicants who are unable to obtain an official transcript from a previous college/university because of financial or other obligations may not be considered for post-baccalaureate admission to Cleveland State.
3. A one-time, non-refundable, $30 undergraduate application processing fee.

College graduates seeking teaching licensure should see the information from the College of Education and Human Services.

Enrollment Options for High School Students
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEOP)

The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEOP) is a state-funded program which offers qualified high-school students the opportunity to gain valuable college life experience and earn credit while supplementing their high-school college preparatory curriculum during the fall and spring semesters. Cleveland State University believes that motivated and dedicated high-school students who participate in this program will profit immensely from the opportunity to interact with college students, faculty, and staff, and experience firsthand the benefits and advantages of a metropolitan university. PSEOP is intended to complement rather than replace the high-school college preparatory curriculum.

Admission to the PSEO program is based on the student’s high-school grade performance and PSAT, SAT, PLAN, or ACT examination scores. Students who are admitted to PSEOP are eligible to enroll in courses for both high-school and college credit. Once enrolled at Cleveland State, PSEOP students are held to the same standards as regular undergraduate students and must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 to continue in the program.

Admission Criteria (for high school seniors, juniors and sophomores)

• 3.4 high school cumulative GPA.
• Minimum ACT (or PLAN) scores of 20 on each section, OR minimum SAT (or PSAT) scores of 470 on each section (total of 940 critical reading and math sections combined)

Students planning to participate in their freshman year are admitted only under special circumstances. Freshman applicants must meet the admission criteria stated above as well as submit two letters of recommendation and a written essay.

Students whose test scores or GPA. fall below these Admission Criteria have their applications reviewed on an individual basis by the Admissions Committee to determine whether or not they will be admitted. It is possible for them to be admitted with provisional status.

Home schooled students must be enrolled in an eligible school, which includes electronic schools sponsored by the State of Ohio, in order to participate in PSEOP. Whether or not the student must attend classes at the high school is determined by his or her individual school district.

A complete application consists of the following elements:

• Completed PSEOP Application Form (including Parts 1, 2, 3 & 4)
• Official High School Transcript
• Official ACT and/or SAT test scores if not posted on high school transcript (PLAN & PSAT scores will be accepted). Scores are not official if they are written on the application or faxed to Cleveland State University.
• $30 non-refundable application fee

** Ninth grade participants must also include:

• Official copy of most current report card
• Two recommendation letters, one from a guidance counselor and one from a teacher
• Student essay answering the following question: Why do you want to participate in the PSEO Program? Include an explanation of what you hope to accomplish at Cleveland State University. (300-600 words)

Application Deadlines

High school students interested in participating in PSEOP for the full academic year (fall and spring semesters) must apply by June 15. Students submitting applications by April 1 will receive their decision by early May. Students interested in participating in the spring semester must apply by November 15.

Orientation

Admitted students are required to attend a PSEOP orientation session to introduce them to Cleveland State and to provide vital information about the program and the University. Information regarding this orientation will be forwarded following admission to the program.

Course Selection and Registration

The course selection process for PSEOP students is a collaborative effort between the student, the high school counselor, and the Cleveland State PSEOP advisor. The high school guidance counselor is required to complete the student’s academic advising plan as part of the application. The PSEOP advisor mails a printout of the most recent, available schedule to the high school guidance counselor for review. If any changes are needed, the student’s schedule is adjusted.

CSU PSEOP students are permitted to take summer classes as Viking Bridge students; however, they must pay their tuition or be part of a grant funded program.

All Cleveland State University PSEOP students, other than those taking a CSU course(s) only at their respective high school, will meet with a PSEOP Advisor prior to registration. Students taking a course at their high school attend orientation and sign a scheduling form.

Course registration is done on a space-available basis. PSEOP students will register for their courses following the main registration period for current Cleveland State students. Details of this process will be provided during orientation.

Cleveland State University reserves the right to limit the number of credit hours a PSEOP student may enroll in each semester. In general, the recommendations are as follows per semester:

• Juniors and seniors may enroll full time.
• Sophomores and Freshmen should consider enrolling in one or two courses per semester.

The PSEO Program Advisor, the high school guidance counselor and the student will determine the appropriate number of courses in which a student can enroll each semester. The high school counselor should be consulted about any additional restrictions.

Viking Bridge to College Program

The Viking Bridge to College Program offers qualified high-school students, who are uninterested or unable to participate in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options A or B, the opportunity to take courses during the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Unlike PSEOP Option B, all tuition, fees, and books for students enrolled in Viking Bridge must be paid by the individual student or parent. Admissions requirements for this program are the same as the PSEOP criteria. Individual school districts decide whether or not to accept college credits earned under Viking Bridge.

For more information contact our PSEOP Coordinator at 216-687-2279 or s.shelden@csuohio.edu.

Project 60 Students

The Project 60 Program enables any Ohio resident, age 60 or older, to audit standard academic classes at Cleveland State University on a tuition-free, academic space-available basis. Students are responsible for purchasing their own textbooks, providing transportation, paying for parking, e-learning fees and any other special fees.

Benefits

• Attend classes at the downtown campus or West Center in Westlake
• Receive an official Cleveland State ID card (Viking Card)
• Use the Michael Schwartz Library
• Use campus computer labs, may borrow Mobile Campus laptops, and issued CSU email accounts
• Use the Career Services Center
• Obtain membership to the Cleveland State University Recreation Center; details are available at www.csuohio.edu/services/recreationcenter/membership/community or call 216-802-3200
• Receive student discounts with the use of your Cleveland State ID card
• Participate in student events and activities on campus
• Visit Student Life for details

Admission

If interested students would like to join us for the upcoming semester, please mail or deliver an application form to the following address:
Project 60, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Ave., EC 100, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214.

The application form is a simple, one-page form. You can download the application form or you can call 216-687-9379 for assistance.

On the Thursday prior to the first day of the semester, students can register for their courses online through CampusNet. Individual assistance to register for classes will be provided at the Project 60 In-Person Help Day (optional) at the main campus or West Center. Please visit the Project 60 website for the upcoming enrollment dates.

Policies

Students are unable to earn a degree or credits toward a degree with the classes taken through the Project 60 Program. Project 60 students may not enroll in both Project 60 classes and degree seeking classes during the same semester. If students wish to earn a degree or credits toward a degree, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions Office website www.csuohio.edu/admissions or call 216-687-5411.

Most for-credit courses are open to Project 60 students on a space-available basis. Students are responsible for obtaining permission to take classes, if necessary. The following courses require permission:

• Law classes: call 216-687-2289
• Studio art and dance classes: contact the instructor for permission
• Applied music: call 216-687-5018
• Graduate classes: form available on the Project 60 website; students are required to get permission from the instructor

Available Classes

The Undergraduate Catalog and list of classes are available online. Although paper copies of the classes being offered and their descriptions are not available, individual assistance in choosing classes may be obtained at the Project 60 In-Person Help Day. Please call 216-687-9379 or visit www.csuohio.edu/project60 for more information.

Contact Information

International Student Admissions

Inquiries regarding application procedures should be directed to:

Office of Admissions
2121 Euclid Avenue
Euclid Commons, Room 100
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
U.S.A.

Phone: 216-687-5411
Email: admissions@csuohio.edu

Web site: www.csuohio.edu/admissions

Admission to Special Programs

The following Cleveland State undergraduate programs require additional application procedures beyond regular admission to the university. If you plan to pursue one of the following programs, please click on its link below and complete the additional application procedures:

• Honors Program
• Music
• Nursing
• Teacher Licensure (Post-baccalaureate)

Application Fees

A nonrefundable $30 application fee is required by check or money order (made payable to Cleveland State University). Students submitting an application online may pay with Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

High School students who have limited financial resources and meet the NACAC requirements may use the NACAC Request for Application Fee Waiver Form when applying for college.

Application Deadlines and Notification of Admission Status

Cleveland State reviews student applications on a rolling basis up to two weeks prior to the start of the semester. However, high school students applying for the following fall semester should complete their applications as early as possible in their senior year. First- year students interested in applying for the Honors Program must apply before January 15 of each year. Students applying as juniors (60-89 credit hours) to the Honors Program must apply by February 28 of each year. Selection of students for limited merit-based scholarships begins in October of each year for qualified students who are admitted to the university. Applicants who apply well in advance of the start of the semester have the advantage of being among the first to be considered for scholarships, reserve housing, schedule orientation and register for classes.

Many programs can admit only limited numbers of new students. When all the space in a program is taken, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions no longer considers applications for that program. In any case, you should make sure that all your application materials are in the admissions office by the following priority dates:

Fall Semester Admission: July 15

Spring Semester Admission: November 1

Summer Semester Admission: April 15

Although we will make every effort to process applications received after the priority date, they cannot be guaranteed to be processed in time for that semester.

After all materials are received to complete an application file, the file is reviewed and the applicant is sent a letter indicating acceptance or denial.

Admissions Standards

Cleveland State University promotes success by admitting freshmen who are prepared academically, as demonstrated by the three criteria below:

• Completion of 13 units of the state-specified, core curriculum in high school
  • 4 units of English and
  • 3 units each of mathematics, social science, and natural science.
    (additionally, 2 units of foreign language and 1 unit of visual/performing arts are strongly recommended)
• Attainment of at least a 2.3 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in high school
• Mandatory completion of the ACT or SAT with a minimum score of 16 or 770, respectively.  Writing portion not considered.
• Students taking the new SAT should earn a minimum combined score of 770 on the math and critical reading sections.

With these criteria serving as the basis for regular admission, the university may offer provisional admission to students who do not fully meet them. These provisional students will be limited to 12 hours or fewer each semester during their first year of enrollment at Cleveland State in an effort to promote their academic success. Students not qualifying for admission may complete specified course work at a regionally accredited, two-year or four-year college and reapply to Cleveland State.

Foreign Language Entrance Requirement

Cleveland State requires all students who graduated from high school in 1987 or later to have completed two years of a foreign language in high school. Students who did not complete the courses in high school must finish a first-year foreign language sequence, or take two semesters of American Sign Language and one approved foreign-culture course. The deficiency must be corrected prior to the completion of 60 credits at Cleveland State. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences should consult with their adviser regarding additional foreign language requirements to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

The Foreign Language Requirement applies to all undergraduate students, including those who are not native speakers of English and students for whom English is a second language, unless specifically exempted in the policy on Foreign Language Requirement (e.g., post-baccalaureate students). Such students, if deficient in foreign language studies credits upon admission to Cleveland State University, may remove the deficiency by completion of appropriate courses at Cleveland State or by verification of appropriate knowledge of language and culture through the Department of Modern Languages at Cleveland State.

Foreign Language Placement

The courses needed to meet the Cleveland State Foreign Language Entrance Requirement and the College Graduation Requirement depend on how many years were completed in high school and when these were taken. Any delay in meeting this requirement may mean repeating classes taken in high school. Students should begin their language study at a level that reflects their current level of competency. Placement tests in French and Spanish and advising from Modern Languages faculty can help determine the appropriate level. Students who repeat language courses taken in high school can count those credits toward graduation, but not toward the CLASS Foreign Language Requirement.

Freshman and transfer students with more than one year or its equivalent study and fewer than three years or their equivalent study in French or Spanish are required to take the placement test. Students with three years or more of study in French or Spanish who want to continue their work in the language must take the placement test to assist in placement. Students who have studied other languages in high school should consult with the Modern Languages Department directly to continue their work in these languages. Faculty in the foreign languages normally conduct informal placement interviews.

Transfer students and students who have taken the Advanced Placement Test in a foreign language should consult with an academic adviser regarding the credit granted; they should then consult with the Modern Languages Department to select appropriate advanced coursework.

Placement Testing

• Go to the Placement Testing website
• English and Math Placement
• Foreign Language
• English as a Second Language
• Other Tests

English and Math Placement

Freshman students are required to take the placement test prior to registering for an English course or math course. Under the new ACT policy, however, students scoring 16 or above will no longer have to take the English placement test. Students who have taken the Advanced Placement Program Exam and received College Board AP credit should consult with an academic adviser. Mandatory placement is in effect for all mathematics courses numbered MTH 115 through MTH 127, MTH 148, and  MTH 167  through MTH 181 . Students become eligible to take one of these courses by achieving a suitable score on the Math Placement Examination, or by passing the prerequisite course at Cleveland State University or another university or community college.

Transfer students who have completed and received transfer credit for at least one three-credit hour course in Freshman English, or college-level math courses, will not be required to take Placement Examinations. They should consult with their academic adviser to select appropriate coursework based on transfer credit applicability.

• The placement testing process is completely done by computer, and test results are provided immediately upon completion of the tests.
• Placement testing dates, times, and sample tests are available at the Placement Testing Office, Rhodes Tower West Room 289, at 216-687-2566 or online at: http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/counselingtesting/placementhome.html.
• You do not need to register for the placement tests. Simply show up during the posted placement testing hours.
• WEEKDAY PLACEMENT TESTS may be taken anytime during the posted office hours.
• A photo ID is required to take all placement examinations.
• The Office of Disability Services is available to assist students with special needs during placement testing. Call the office at 216-687-2015 for more information.

Foreign Language

• The Academic Services Center also administers the Spanish and French placement tests by computer.
• The Modern Language department can access the test results for advising purposes.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

• Students whose first language is not English should first take the English Placement Exam. If they do not place into ENG 101, they should register for ESL 096, which will prepare them for the Freshman Composition series.

Other Tests

• The Academic Services Center administers the Compass test for Education majors and the Chemistry placement test.