Central State University

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.

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

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

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Agricultural research programs
• Online learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilberforce

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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)

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• The Ohio State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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 MissourimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating 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 UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/centralstate87
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CentralState87
• Facebookfacebook.com/116884035037412
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/centralstate87

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central State University