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Central State University

#797 in US ranking Wilberforce, OH
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Central State University award

Cost

Cost / year
$22,374
Tuition & fees
$8,300
Avg. aid
$7,074
Receiving aid
99%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
99%
Avg. SAT
860
Avg. ACT
16

Outcomes

Graduation rate
23%
Median salary
$40,690
1 yr after graduation

What does Central State University offer in terms of athletics?

Central State's Marauders compete in NCAA Division II athletics, principally in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Varsity participation is a recruited, scheduled competition commitment; it should not be confused with informal recreation or a campus fitness activity.

The university's reported sports offerings include basketball, football, cross-country, track and field, softball, tennis, volleyball, and golf, along with cheerleading. Teams and schedules can change, so a prospective athlete should confirm the current roster and recruiting process for a particular sport. Eligibility, roster space, and any athletic aid are individual matters, not benefits of admission to the university.

Students who want physical activity without varsity competition can look into current recreation and fitness options. They should verify which activities are operating in their term rather than assume that every listed varsity sport has an intramural equivalent.

What student groups and Associations are available at Central State University?

Central State offers ways to participate in campus life beyond classes and varsity sports, including student-led media, performing arts, and other student organizations. Reported opportunities include a campus newspaper, student-run radio and television, theater, choral groups, and a marching band.

Those activities differ in how students join: a media outlet may recruit contributors, a performance group may hold auditions, and a recognized club may accept members at an activities event. Students interested in academic, cultural, service, or leadership organizations should check the current student-activities directory for active groups and meeting details. An organization's appearance in a historical listing does not establish that it is meeting this semester.

Who studies at Central State University?

Central State reported 2,708 enrolled students. Its entering population included 537 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 178 transfer-in students. Those figures describe different enrollment groups and should not be added together as though they represented the whole student body.

The reported student-origin figures indicate that 55% were Ohio residents, 31% came from other U.S. states, and 8% came from other countries. The categories do not account for every student in the reporting extract. In a separate ethnicity count, 1,452 students were identified as Black or African American, consistent with the university's historically Black identity; students of other reported racial and ethnic backgrounds also attend.

Central State reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. That institution-wide ratio is not a promised class size: an introductory course, laboratory, and advanced seminar may have very different enrollments. The university's mix of first-time and transfer students also means that classmates may arrive with different academic paths and timelines.

How does student life look like at Central State University?

Student life at Central State combines a residential campus with a substantial commuting population. About 60% of students are reported as living on campus and 40% as commuting, so the daily experience may differ depending on whether a student stays for evening activities or travels home after class.

Welcome activities, performances, campus media, athletics, and student groups provide opportunities to meet peers. The university also reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. Students who expect to use a particular service should check its hours, appointment process, and eligibility rather than assume that every service operates around the clock.

For a first-year student, the practical questions are often how to get academic help, where to spend time between classes, and how to stay connected after the first few weeks. For a commuter, evening transportation and the timing of activities may matter as much as the number of events on a calendar.

What libraries are available to students at Central State University?

The Hallie Q. Brown Memorial Library is Central State's main campus library. It provides a place for coursework and research, and students can reserve study rooms. Reported library access does not include a 24-hour study area, so students who work late should check current building hours and alternatives before planning an overnight session.

For research assignments, students should look beyond the physical shelves to the library's catalog, electronic journals, databases, and librarian assistance. Access to licensed online material may require a university login when off campus. Students seeking a source the library does not hold can ask about borrowing or document-delivery options and allow time for a request to be filled.

Central State University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

2708

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

568

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

103 full time, 144 part time

Veterans affair office

No

Central State University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 2,665
Graduate: 43

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 2,087
Part-time: 621

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 332
Men: 236

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 34
Black or African American: 1,452
White: 117
American Indian or Alaska Native: 7
Asian: 28
Two or more races: 43
Unknown: 241

Central State University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Basketball

Both–Both

Cheerleading

Women–Women

Cross-country running

Both–Both

Football

Men–Men

Golf

Both–Both

Track and field

Both–Both

Volleyball

Both–Both

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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