Admissions

Campus Visits and Contact Information

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers information sessions and campus tours on weekdays and select Saturdays and a variety of special events for prospective students. Schedule your visit here. (When scheduled in advance, individualized admissions appointments are also available for prospective first-year and transfer students.)

Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of visit programs and to schedule your visit. Walk-in appointments may also be available. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is your first point of contact for information about applying to Cleveland State University. You can reach the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by calling 216-523-7416 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). A complete application includes:

1. A complete application (available online)

2. An official transcript sent directly from the high school or hand delivered in a sealed envelope, or a self-reported GPA provided on the application.

• Students currently enrolled in high school are encouraged to apply early. Admission is contingent on receipt of final, official transcripts showing the high school graduation date.
• GED students must submit an official GED transcript 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 ACT or SAT.

• 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 non-refundable $40 undergraduate application processing fee.

Students must meet the following three requirements to be admitted:

1. Cumulative high school GPA of 2.3

2. Successful completion of 13 core academic requirements:

•     4 years/units of English
•     3 years/units of Math
•     3 years/units of Natural Sciences
•     3 years/units of Social Sciences

Students graduating from an Ohio public or chartered high school in 2014 and beyond must complete the Ohio Core Curriculum Requirements, which include:

•     4 years/units of English
•     4 years/units of Math, including Algebra II or an equivalent course
•     3 years/units of Science
•     3 years/units of Social Studies
•     1 year/unit of Fine Arts, to include courses taken in grades 7-12

Students not qualified for admission may complete specified coursework at a regionally accredited, two-year or four-year college and reapply to Cleveland State as a transfer student.

Each academic college has specific guidelines for direct entry. Students not meeting these requirements may be considered for pre-admission into an academic college or admitted to University Studies.

Transfer Applicants

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

A complete transfer application includes:

1. A complete application (available online).
2. An official transcript sent directly from all regionally accredited colleges or universities attended.
   • 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 and official ACT or SAT scores. This information will be considered in the admission process.
   • Students currently enrolled at 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 admission.
   • Failure to list attendance at a college or university on the application may be grounds for admission revocation or dismissal from the university.
3. A non-refundable $40 undergraduate application processing fee.
4. An official copy of their high school transcript is recommended to provide documentation of meeting the foreign language requirement and to be considered for financial aid.

Each academic college has specific guidelines for direct entry. Students not meeting these requirements may be considered for pre-admission into an academic college or admitted to University Studies.

Transfer Guides, Articulation Agreements, and Dual Admissions Agreements

Transfer guides, articulation agreements, program pathways, dual admission arrangements, and partnership programs with Cuyahoga Community College, Lakeland Community College, and Lorain County Community College, can be viewed online at the CSU Transfer Center.

Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy

See also the Catalog Statement relating to transfer credits and Ohio Transfer 36 under Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy.

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 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  .

Ohio Transfer 36 Grid

For information, go to the Ohio Transfer 36 webpage.

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. A student who interrupts his or her enrollment at 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 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 should complete the Transient Student Enrollment Request at https://www.csuohio.edu/registrar/transient-student-information. 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 may be required 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 (300- and 400-level courses).
• 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,
• Complete a certificate program,
• Prepare for graduate or professional school,
• Earn a second bachelor’s degree, or
• Take courses for personal interest.

Students earning a second bachelor’s degree must 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

Post-baccalaureate students interested in finding out if they are eligible for financial aid should contact All-in-1 Enrollment Services.

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 non-refundable $40 undergraduate application processing fee.

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

College Credit Plus (CCP)

Ohio’s College Credit Plus can help qualified students in grades 7-12 earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses.

Students who qualify for the program may enroll in college courses under one of the two options:

• Option A: The student takes courses for college credit only and is responsible for payment of all tuition, books and fees
• Option B: The student takes courses for college and high school graduate credit. Tuition, books and fees are paid through Ohio Department of Education funds

Admission to CSU College Credit Plus (CCP)

• CSU requires that interested students take the ACT or SAT in order to demonstrate college-readiness. Visit the ACT website or the SAT website for details and registration information.
• Notify your school district of your intent to pursue CCP admission. Ask your guidance counselor about the formal process and deadline for doing so.
• The application deadline is June 15 for Fall, November 1 for Spring, and May 1 for Summer.
• Students with at least a 2.3 cumulative high school grade point average and who meet test score requirements will be admitted. Test score requirements are:
  • ACT composite score of 16 or higher and ​ACT English score of 20 or higher and ACT math score of 22 or higher; or
  • SAT total score of 880 or higher and SAT Reading score of 26 or higher AND SAT math score of 510 or higher (March 2016 or later).

Students who meet ACT/SAT score and English score requirements but fall below required math score, may elect to take CSU’s Math Placement Test for admission consideration.

• After being accepted, private and home-schooled students will need to complete additional paperwork to request funding from the State of Ohio.

Course Selection and Registration

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

All students are expected to abide by the rules of the program set forth by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. CSU has developed 15 and 30 credit hour pathways for various programs. Please contact the Cleveland State CCP Advisor for more information at 216-687-2279. All CSU CCP students, other than those taking a CSU course(s) exclusively at their respective high school, will meet with the CCP Advisor prior to registration. Course registration is done on a space-available basis. Details of this process will be provided during CCP orientation.

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, 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
• Receive an official Cleveland State ID card (Viking Card).
• Use the Michael Schwartz Library.
• Use campus computer labs, borrow Mobile Campus laptops, and use CSU email accounts.
• Use the Career Services Center.
• Obtain membership to the Cleveland State University Recreation Center. Details are available at http://www.csuohio.edu/services/recreationcenter/membership/communitymembership.html 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. Download the application form at https://www.csuohio.edu/project60/project60 or 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) on campus. 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 classes: call 216-687-5018
• Nursing classes: 216-687-3598
• World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures classes: 216-687-4645
• Graduate classes: form available on the Project 60 website at https://www.csuohio.edu/project60/project60; 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 216-687-5411 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
Website: www.csuohio.edu/admissions

Cleveland State Global Accelerator Programs

All international undergraduate applicants must demonstrate proof of English proficiency in one of the following ways and will be admitted to the appropriate Accelerator Program:

1. International Direct:  For students with a secondary school GPA-equivalent of 2.3 or higher (Education and Nursing 2.5 and Engineering 3.0) and an IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) or higher (and 5.0 in each section).
2. Academic Accelerator Program:  For students with a secondary school GPA-equivalent of 2.00-2.29 or higher and an IELTS score of 5.5 - 5.9 (or equivalent). 
3. Extended Accelerator Program:  For students with a secondary school GPA-equivalent of 2.00 - 2.29 or higher and an IELTS score of 5.0-5.4 (or equivalent).

For students with IELTS score below 5.0, the following options are available prior to admission to CSU.

1. Successful completion of CSU’s IELP (Intensive English Language Program) Advanced Level, with a grade of 80% or better.
2. Completion of English language studies (Level 112) from any of the ELS Language Centers.

International students wishing to transfer to CSU must meet the following criteria. 

• Successful completion of 30 semester credit hours of college-level coursework from an accredited college in the United States or English speaking country with a cumulative 2.0 GPA, including the equivalent of CSU’s ENG 101 and ENG 102 with a grade of C or better. Course equivalency will be determined during the application process.

IELTS equivalencies

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 College
• Music
• Nursing
• Teacher Licensure (Post-baccalaureate)

Application Fees

A nonrefundable $40 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 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. 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 21

Spring Semester Admission: December 10

Summer Semester Admission: April 14

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.

Provisional Admission

The University may offer provisional admission to students who do not fully meet requirements. These provisional students must meet a series of milestones as specified 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 World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures 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 the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures 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.

Placement Testing is required of all new students who have taken more than one year of French or Spanish. Students with three years or more of study in French or Spanish who want to continue their work in the language must also take the placement test. Students who have studied other languages in high school should consult with the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures directly to continue their work in these languages. Faculty in the foreign languages 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 Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures to select appropriate advanced coursework.

English and Math Placement

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

• The math placement test is computer-based and test results are provided immediately upon completion. Please visit http://www.csuohio.edu/testingservices/sample-math-placement-exam to access sample tests.
• Testing Services administers placement tests by appointment. Please call 216-687-2272 or email testingservices@csuohio.edu.
• A photo ID is required to take all placement examinations.

The Office of Disability Services is available to assist students with approved accommodations. Please call the office at 216-687-2015 for more information.