Central State University campus
Central State University logo

Central State University

Type 4 year, Public
Campus locale Rural: Fringe
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Medium
Dormitory capacity 1,380
Student to faculty ratio 25 to 1
Acceptance rate 59%
Students retention rate 41%
On-time graduation rate 24%

Located in Wilberforce, Ohio, Central State is a public, institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

Central State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

While the on-time graduation rate at Central State is reported to be 24%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Ohio state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 35% whereas the national average was 49%.

The retention rate of students at Central State is 41% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Ohio is 62%, while the national average is 72%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Central State do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission
  • HBCU
  • The institution provides on-campus housing

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

58.6%

In-State Tuition & Fees

$7,262

Cost of attendance at Central State University in 2022 for students from Ohio.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Ohio's average $7,987
National average $8,573

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$9,262

Cost of attendance at Central State University in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 4 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Ohio's average $16,946
National average $18,862

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 93 of freshman students at Central State University received on average $6,671 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$6,671
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 390 83% $4,278 $1,668,538
Other Federal Grant 390 83% $5,398 $2,105,408
State Grant/Scholarships 58 12% $730 $42,356
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 179 38% $4,325 $774,183
Total Grant & Scholarships 438 93% $6,671 $2,921,947

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Central State University students who enrolled in 2015 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Central State University students is 23.5%. Female students graduated at a rate of 27.9%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 17.9%.

23.5%

  • African American 23.2% 113 students
  • Mixed Race 50.0% 4 students

Sport Conferences

  • Football Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
  • Basketball Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
  • Track and Cross Country Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Athletic Associations

  • NCAA
    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

Service Offerings

Central State University provides the following additional services to its students
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services

Educational Offerings

Central State University offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Weekend/evening classes
  • Study abroad
  • Teacher certification
  • ROTC - Army

Veteran Services

  • Member of Service-members Opportunity Colleges
  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)