Central State University
Central State University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Central State University Featured Rankings
About Central State University
According to Wikipedia, Central State University is a public, historically black land-grant university in Wilberforce, Ohio. It is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. Established by the state legislature in 1887 as a two-year program for teacher and industrial training, it was originally located with Wilberforce University, a four-year institution devoted to classical academic education. It was originally known as the Combined Normal and Industrial Department. In 1941 the college gained a four-year curriculum, independent status in 1947, and was renamed as Central State College in 1951. With further development, it gained university status in 1965. In 2014, Central State University received designation as a land-grant university.
Central State University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,291 | 99% | 56% | 21% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Central State University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $8,300 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $11,428 |
| 30K - 48K | $12,808 |
| 48K - 75K | $13,894 |
| 75K - 110K | $18,112 |
| 110K+ | $18,558 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Central State University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Central State University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $36,832 a year, and 88% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Central State University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 4,238 | 4,205 | 33 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Central State University?
Central State University is located at 1400 Brush Row Rd, Wilberforce, OH 45384-1004.
How Safe is Central State University?
Central State University reported 1.1 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most midsize residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Central State University has a violent crime rate of 0.07% and a property crime rate of 0.04%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft).
What Is Central State University Known For?
Central State University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Education
- Engineering
- History
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Business
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Biology
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Criminal Justice
Central State University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Central State University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Central State University ranks #408 in the U.S. and #1735 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesCentral State University ranks #422 in the U.S. and #2566 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesCentral State University ranks #438 in the U.S. and #1245 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesCentral State University ranks #565 in the U.S. and #2353 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesCentral State University ranks #574 in the U.S. and #2718 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesCentral State University ranks #610 in the U.S. and #2270 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesCentral State University ranks #639 in the U.S. and #2720 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesCentral State University ranks #659 in the U.S. and #2251 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesCentral State University ranks #791 in the U.S. and #3424 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesCentral State University ranks #1255 in the U.S. and #3810 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesCentral State University ranks #1306 in the U.S. and #5536 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesCentral State University ranks #1547 in the U.S. and #4073 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesCentral State University ranks #1560 in the U.S. and #4050 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesCentral State University ranks #1631 in the U.S. and #3154 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.
criminal-justice DegreesWho Are Central State University's Most Influential Alumni?
Central State University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of History, Earth Sciences, and Education. Here are some of Central State University's most famous alumni:
- Hastings Banda
- A First president of Malawi.
- Leontyne Price
- An American soprano.
- Fred McBagonluri
- A Ghanaian Engineer, Inventor, Novelist, Educator and Thought Leader.
- James C. Renick
- An American academic.
- Dennis Weatherby
- An American scientist.
- Cecil McBee
- An American bassist.
- Phyllis Bolds
- An African-American physicist.
- Zenobia Powell Perry
- An American composer and composition teacher.
