Cleveland State University is a public research university in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It is best known for engineering, business, computer science, nursing, urban affairs and law, with the Cleveland Clinic, major law firms and manufacturers a few blocks away and a mandatory co-op in most engineering degrees. Choose it for an affordable city-centre degree with employers next door.
Cleveland, United States
Official website: csuohio.edu
#1201
R2 — high research activity
Paid co-op terms built into every Washkewicz engineering degree
Downtown Cleveland, beside the theatre district and the Cleveland Clinic corridor
$18,000 – $24,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on csuohio.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 78
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 78
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 78
MBA (Monte Ahuja College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 78
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 78
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 70
Washkewicz College of Engineering — mandatory co-ops with Cleveland's manufacturers and NASA Glenn.
Monte Ahuja College of Business — AACSB-accredited, named after an Indian-American entrepreneur.
Downtown campus — a short walk from the theatre district, sports arenas and Lake Erie.
Levin College of Public Affairs — a top-ranked urban policy school.
Graduates join the Cleveland Clinic, NASA Glenn, Progressive, KeyBank, Sherwin-Williams and Parker Hannifin.
Co-op terms give engineering students paid experience with Cleveland employers before graduation.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Nursing graduates enter the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals systems.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 85-acre campus sits along Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland, with the Student Center and library at its centre, the engineering and business buildings nearby and residence halls and apartments within a few blocks.
Cleveland is a city of about 370,000 on Lake Erie with low rent, a major orchestra, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and three professional sports teams. Pittsburgh and Detroit are each about two and a half hours away.
Form I-20 issued by Cleveland State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 1 December 2026 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computing master's closing between 1 March and 1 July for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Most master's programmes, including computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, the MBA and information systems, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Center for International Services and Programs issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, the MBA and information systems attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 2.75-3.0, TOEFL 78 or IELTS 6.0-6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date, and awards can bring costs close to the in-state rate. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in engineering and the sciences.
