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Central State University
Central State University admits nearly everyone — 98.6% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Central State University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Central State University anchors the college town of Wilberforce, OH, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Social Work, where graduates median $47,853 four years out. Faculty pay averages $92,376 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 2,620 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 55.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Central State University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
Central State University does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 98.6% who got into Central State University did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Central State University received 3,291 applications and admitted 1,514 (46%), with 574 enrolling.
How Central State University compares
| Central State University | Ohio median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 98.6% | 76.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,058 | $29,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $33,267 | $52,356 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Central State University's median earnings are $33,267 — below the Ohio benchmark of $52,356. Weigh that against the $8,058 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Central State University prices by residency: $8,058 in-state versus $10,058 out-of-state — a $2,000 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Central State University enrolls 2,620 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Central State University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
Fewer than half of Central State University students — 22.8% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Central State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Social Work | $47,853 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,914 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $44,662 |
| Psychology, General | $39,628 |
| Journalism | $36,311 |
Median earnings for these 5 Central State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $33,267 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 24 additional Central State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Central State University?
Central State University doesn't look at test scores; its 98.6% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Central State University's acceptance rate?
46% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,514 admitted from 3,291 applicants.
How much does Central State University cost?
In-state tuition is $8,058; out-of-state students pay $10,058. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Central State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $33,267 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Ohio
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus — 85.3% admitted
- Cleveland State University — 91.3% admitted
- University of Akron Wayne College — 89.9% admitted
- Herzing University-Akron — 94.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.