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Cuyahoga Community College District

#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio
Public Cleveland, OH · Urban · Great Lakes · 87% data
A Value A Affordability B- Diversity
Graduation Rate
30% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$35,654 D+
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$4,266 A
75% less than the typical college
Enrollment
13,382
Earnings -13% vs avg
Graduation -48% vs avg
Net Price +-75% vs avg
Mobility Top 74%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 49.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $49.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio.

49.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $49.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $826,926.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $49.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Cuyahoga Community College District

Cuyahoga Community College District is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
13,382
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Cuyahoga Community College District

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 45% overall
D+
Earnings
$35,654 median
A
Value
8.4× net price
A
Affordability
$4,266/yr net
F
Graduation
30% graduate
D+
Social Mobility
1.0% climb Q1→Q5
B-
Diversity
0.67 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of nearly 13,400 students, Cuyahoga Community College District is a solid choice for those looking to dive into diverse fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Visual & Performing Arts. It’s an environment that welcomes students eager to learn practical skills and advance their careers. The focus here is on hands-on experience, making it an excellent fit for individuals who thrive in a community-oriented setting.

When we look at the outcomes for graduates, the average earnings ten years after completing their program is about $35,654. This figure gives us a glimpse into the financial reality for many graduates. The affordability of attending Cuyahoga is also a plus, with a net price of approximately $4,266 after financial aid. For those receiving Pell Grants, which is about 32% of the student body, the financial burden is significantly lightened. This accessibility can be a game-changer for students who may otherwise find higher education out of reach.

In terms of practical details, students here tend to graduate with a median debt of $8,150. This is a manageable amount compared to many four-year institutions, making it easier for graduates to start their careers without overwhelming financial pressure. Cuyahoga Community College is ideal for those who are focused on building a future without incurring massive debt, as well as for individuals looking for a supportive community that prioritizes career readiness and personal growth.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Cuyahoga Community College District is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Cuyahoga Community College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga Community College District enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.

Retention Rate
57%
Full-Time Faculty
29%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,887
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.67
First-Gen Students
49%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cuyahoga Community College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Cuyahoga Community College District is $7,249, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,266. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,941 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,150 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$3,249
Out-of-State
$7,249
Avg Net Price
$4,266
Median Debt
$8,150
Pell Grant Rate
32%
Federal Loan Rate
9%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$2,941
Family Income $30K–$48K
$3,646
Family Income $48K–$75K
$6,005
Family Income $110K+
$10,491

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Cuyahoga Community College District — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Cuyahoga Community College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Cuyahoga Community College District report median earnings of $35,654, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$30,927
8 Years
$33,795
10 Years
$35,654
Debt-to-Earnings
0.23x
Earning > $25K
43%

Earnings Trajectory

$30,927 6yr $33,795 8yr $35,654 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (179)
11%
100% (179)
11%
100% (179)
11%
100% (179)
11%

How Cuyahoga Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation30%Earnings 10yr$36KNet Price$4KRetention57%Median Debt$8KPell Grant Rate32%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$6K$48-75K$10K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%18.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%5.7%MOBILITY1.03%

College ROI Calculator

Is Cuyahoga Community College District Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Cuyahoga Community College District delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,266/year ($17,064 total). Graduates earn $35,654 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $843,990 in total earnings — a net gain of $826,926 (49.5× your investment). The median debt is $8,150, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$17,064
Projected 20yr Earnings
$843,990
Net Return
$826,926
ROI Multiple
49.5×
Cost Per Year
$4,266
Median Debt
$8,150
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
30%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Cuyahoga Community College District Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Cuyahoga Community College District is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.03%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
5.7%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
18.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$78,122
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Cuyahoga Community College District? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Cuyahoga Community College District. Its economic connectedness score is 0.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.20), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
0.70
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.20
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.5%
Support Ratio
0.95
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$6,997,906
Investment Income
$-14,000,799

Top Programs

The fields Cuyahoga Community College District awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Cuyahoga Community College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Cuyahoga Community College District enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cuyahoga Community College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Cuyahoga Community College District is $7,249, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $4,266. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,941 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,150 in federal student loans.

Is Cuyahoga Community College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Cuyahoga Community College District report median earnings of $35,654, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Cuyahoga Community College District Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Cuyahoga Community College District is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 18% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 5.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Cuyahoga Community College District? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Cuyahoga Community College District. Its economic connectedness score is 0.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.20), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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