Central State University
Central State University is a public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Wilberforce, Ohio, serving undergraduate, graduate, dual-enrollment, and online students through four colleges, an MBA, the ARDP research program, and Ohio satellite campuses. Revenue is generated via tuition, state appropriations, and federal research grants; the university is currently on Ohio Department of Higher Education fiscal watch.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1887
- HeadquartersWilberforce, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Central State University does
Central State University (CSU) is a public Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and federally designated 1890 Land-Grant Institution founded in 1887 and headquartered at 1400 Brush Row Road, Wilberforce, Ohio, with 501–1,000 employees. It delivers undergraduate and graduate education across four colleges — Business; Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education; and Honors — supplemented by an accelerated MBA, the College Credit Plus dual-enrollment program, and online degrees through Central State Global. Beyond instruction, CSU operates an Agricultural Research and Development Program (ARDP) within CESTA, with specialized laboratory infrastructure in precision agriculture (UAS/drones, sensors, microcontrollers), food safety microbiology (BSL-2 pathogen and PCR/qPCR work), honey bee and pollination research, and soil/water conservation (metagenomics, proteomics, isotope geochemistry), and runs cooperative extension services across Ohio.
The university's commercial footprint is multi-format: a residential main campus in Wilberforce, satellite campuses in Dayton, Trotwood, and Xenia, dual-enrollment partnerships with Ohio high schools, articulation agreements with community colleges, and distance learning delivered online. Revenue streams include tuition and fees (governed by the four-year Marauder Tuition Guarantee), state appropriations from Ohio, sponsored research awards (notably a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for self-driving car research, over $1.6 million from USDA NIFA across UAS, nutrition/obesity, and honey-production studies, and additional USDA capacity-building grants), and financial aid administration. Marketing and recruitment are executed through the university website, an active social media footprint (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), Constant Contact newsletters, on-campus events (SOAR orientation, homecoming, alumni reunions), and a regional field admissions team.
CSU holds the dual regulatory position of Ohio's only public HBCU and an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, granting access to specific federal funding streams and a unique student recruitment positioning. The institution is currently under fiscal watch by the Ohio Department of Higher Education due to severe deficiencies in financial oversight, academic operations, and building maintenance, with an audit and recovery plan underway.
Central State University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Central State University
- Legal name
- Central State University
- Website
- https://centralstate.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1887
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Central State University is a public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Wilberforce, Ohio, serving undergraduate, graduate, dual-enrollment, and online students through four colleges, an MBA, the ARDP research program, and Ohio satellite campuses. Revenue is generated via tuition, state appropriations, and federal research grants; the university is currently on Ohio Department of Higher Education fiscal watch.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Central State University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Historically Black Land-Grant Universities (1862/1890) (EDAHAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public HBCUs (State-Supported) (EDAHAMAA)
Keywords
Where Central State University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilberforce
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Central State University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Central State University generates revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees. The university offers the 'Marauder Tuition Guarantee' — a zero tuition increase commitment over four years — to make college affordable. Revenue is collected from in-state and out-of-state students enrolling in on-campus and online degree programs.
- State Appropriations: As a public university in Ohio, Central State University receives operating funding from the state government. The university's financial challenges (placed on fiscal watch by the Ohio Department of Higher Education) suggest state appropriations are a significant portion of its operating budget.
- Sponsored Research Grants and Contracts: Central State University receives significant external research funding from federal agencies. Noteworthy grants include $1.6+ million from USDA NIFA for agricultural research (unmanned aerial systems, nutrition/obesity, honey production), $15 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for autonomous vehicle research, and multiple USDA NEXTGEN and capacity-building grants. Research funding supports the Agricultural Research and Development Program (ARDP) and various academic departments.
- Financial Aid and Scholarships: Revenue is offset by financial aid and scholarship expenditures funded through federal student aid programs, state grants, and institutional scholarships. The university guides students through financial aid and scholarship processes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Marauder Tuition Guarantee — Flat tuition over 4 years |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Central State University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Central State University is a public historically Black college/university (HBCU) and 1890 Land-Grant Institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across four colleges (Business; Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education; and Honors). It delivers instruction through on-campus enrollment at its Wilberforce, Ohio main campus, satellite locations, and online programs via Central State Global. The university also conducts sponsored agricultural and transportation research and provides community extension services.
Product overview
Central State University is a public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution offering a comprehensive range of educational products and services. The university operates a multi-format academic portfolio comprising undergraduate programs across four colleges (Business; Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education; and Honors College), graduate programs including an MBA, and online offerings through Central State Global. The institution also delivers specialized programs including College Credit Plus for high school students, and conducts agricultural research through its Agricultural Research and Development Program (ARDP) with Extension services for community engagement. Student services include the D2L learning management system, career services, health services, and housing and dining.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Central State Global Online Programs
- College Credit Plus (Dual Enrollment)
- Agricultural Research and Development Program (ARDP)
- Extension Services Community engagement programs delivered across Ohio covering agriculture and natural resources, community economic development, and workforce training through satellite locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $16.6 million in competitive federal research grants secured (USDA NIFA: $1.6M+; DOT: $15M)
Companies that use Central State University
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Central State University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Central State University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- The Ohio State UniversitymajorPartner institution in the USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS) grant led by CSU. The collaboration involves multiple universities (including Ohio State, University of Missouri, Lincoln University) on agricultural research including undergraduate student internships, curriculum development, and shared research objectives in agricultural sciences.
- University of MissourimajorCollaborating university on the USDA SAS grant alongside CSU and other institutions. Involved in undergraduate student internship exchanges and shared research in agricultural sciences under the multi-institutional grant structure.
- Lincoln UniversitymajorPartner institution (another 1890 Land-Grant University) collaborating with CSU on the USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems grant for agricultural research and education coordination.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Central State University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lincoln University: An 1890 Land-Grant HBCU in Missouri that collaborates directly with CSU on the USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems grant. Highly comparable as a fellow 1890 Land-Grant HBCU with overlapping research scope and federal funding access.
- Tuskegee University: A private HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Alabama with a strong agricultural research portfolio. Comparable as a peer HBCU Land-Grant institution with similar STEM-Ag research capabilities and student demographics.
- Florida A&M University: A large public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Florida. Comparable as a public HBCU Land-Grant peer with significant federal research funding and a broader scale of agricultural and STEM programs.
- Kentucky State University: A public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Kentucky with a comparable scale and agricultural research portfolio. Highly comparable as a small public HBCU Land-Grant peer.
- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff: A public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Arkansas. Comparable as a peer public HBCU Land-Grant institution with overlapping agricultural and environmental research focus.
- Southern University and A&M College: A public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Louisiana. Comparable as a public HBCU Land-Grant peer with comparable agricultural research, federal funding mix, and student demographic profile.
- Wilberforce University: A private HBCU located in Wilberforce, Ohio, sharing the same town and overlapping student recruitment market. Directly comparable as a small Ohio-based HBCU with a similar historic mission and limited operating scale.
- Alcorn State University: A public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution in Mississippi. Comparable as a smaller-scale public HBCU Land-Grant peer with similar federal funding dependencies and rural student demographic.
Broad incumbents
- Ohio State University: Ohio's flagship public research university and a strategic CSU partner on the USDA SAS grant. Comparable as a much larger Ohio public research institution competing for the same state appropriation pool and student pipeline.
Regional players
- Wright State University: A regional public university in Dayton, Ohio, near CSU's satellite locations. Comparable as a regional Ohio public university competing for similar in-state students and state appropriations, though not HBCU-affiliated.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Central State University social profiles
Digital presenceCentral State University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Central State University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Central State University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Central State University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Central State University
What does Central State University do?
Central State University is a public historically Black college/university (HBCU) and 1890 Land-Grant Institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across four colleges (Business; Engineering, Science, Technology, and Agriculture; Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education; and Honors). It delivers instruction through on-campus enrollment at its Wilberforce, Ohio main campus, satellite locations, and online programs via Central State Global. The university also conducts sponsored agricultural and transportation research and provides community extension services.
Is Central State University a public or private company?
Central State University is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Central State University founded?
Central State University was founded in 1887. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Central State University based?
Central State University is headquartered in Wilberforce, United States, in the North America region.
How does Central State University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are state Appropriations, sponsored Research Grants and Contracts and financial Aid and Scholarships.
Who are Central State University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lincoln University, Tuskegee University, Florida A&M University, Kentucky State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Southern University and A&M College, Wilberforce University and Alcorn State University. Ohio State University is listed as a broad incumbent. Wright State University is listed as a regional player.
Does Central State University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Central State University.
What industry is Central State University in?
Central State University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAMAD, Historically Black Land-Grant Universities (1862/1890), with a secondary code of EDAHAMAA, Public HBCUs (State-Supported). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.