Ohio's public research university in downtown Cleveland, offering 175+ programs across eight colleges.
Cleveland State offers over 175 academic programs across eight colleges: Arts and Sciences, Graduate Studies, Health, Law, Honors, Public Affairs and Education, Business, and Engineering. The university maintains research partnerships with NASA Glenn Research Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, and other regional institutions. In 2018, CSU established the School of Film & Media Arts, Ohio's first standalone film school, housed at Playhouse Square. The College of Law traces its origins to 1897 and was formerly known as Cleveland-Marshall College of Law until 2022.
The main campus occupies 85 acres in downtown Cleveland, bounded by Interstate 90, East 17th Street, Payne Avenue, and Carnegie Avenue. Recent renovations transformed CSU from a commuter school into a residential campus, including the Student Recreation Center, Fenn Tower dormitory, Student Center, and Euclid Commons apartments. The 2010 Euclid Corridor Project brought bus rapid transit connecting the campus to Public Square and University Circle. Student media includes The Cauldron newspaper, CSU-TV, and The Gavel law review. The university hosts 4 NIC fraternities, 3 NPC sororities, and all 9 NPHC organizations.
Cleveland State Vikings compete in NCAA Division I, primarily in the Horizon League with 15 varsity sports. The men's basketball team gained national attention in 1986 when seeded 14th, it upset 3-seed Indiana and Saint Joseph's before losing to Navy in the Elite Eight. The team made another NCAA tournament appearance in 2009, upsetting 4-seed Wake Forest. Wrestling competes in the Mid-American Conference and men's lacrosse in the ASUN Conference. The school colors are university green and fresh green; the mascot is Magnus.
CSU offers undergraduate, graduate, law, and international admissions pathways. The university emphasizes engaged learning through 3,000+ co-ops, internships, and experiential opportunities. According to CSU's About page, the average graduate's debt is nearly $2,000 below the state average, and CSU's average student debt per borrower ranks second-lowest among Ohio public universities. CSU was ranked No. 1 nationally for increases in research expenditures by the National Science Foundation.