Side-by-side
Cleveland State University vs Western Carolina University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Similar selectivity (82% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $9k — meaningfully less than $19k.
| Cleveland State University | Western Carolina University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 91% | 82% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $12,988 | $4,630 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $18,510 | $8,630 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $12,988 | $4,630 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $18,510 | $8,630 |
| Graduation rate | 50% | 60% |
| Total enrollment | 8,969 | 10,024 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/cleveland-state-university-vs-western-carolina-university.