Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University's roots trace back to 1870 when the Cleveland YMCA began offering free classes . The program was formalized in 1881, reorganized in 1906 as the Association Institute, and became the Cleveland YMCA School of Technology in 1921 . In 1929, it was renamed Fenn College after acquiring the campus buildings and establishing itself as a private institution that pioneered internship programs in engineering and business . Historic Fenn Tower, now student housing, stands as a reminder of these early years .

On December 18, 1964, Ohio Governor James Rhodes signed House Bill No. 2 into law, establishing Cleveland State University as a state-assisted institution . The new university acquired the entirety of Fenn College's campus and opened for classes on September 27, 1965 . Enrollment jumped from Fenn's 1,675 full-time students to 3,416 in CSU's first year, requiring military-style Quonset huts for additional classroom space .

In 1969, CSU absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, which itself traced its origins to the founding of Cleveland Law School in 1897—the first evening law school in Ohio and one of the first to admit women and minorities . Cleveland Law School had merged with the John Marshall School of Law (founded 1916) in 1946 to become Cleveland-Marshall Law School before joining CSU .
The 1970s and 1980s brought expansion and challenges. In 1977, the College of Urban Affairs (now the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs) was established and has since ranked among the top programs of its kind nationally . The university weathered difficult periods including campus homicides in 1982, racial tensions and student protests in the late 1980s, and a near-financial collapse in the late 1990s following the failure of its PeopleSoft financial aid system .
A new era began in 2001 under President Michael Schwartz, who moved the university away from open enrollment, established admissions standards, created an honors program, and initiated major campus revitalization . Subsequent presidents Ronald Berkman (2009-2018), Harlan Sands (2018-2022), and Laura J. Bloomberg (2022-present) have continued this transformation . The university launched its "CSU 2.0" initiative in 2022, reorganizing around eight colleges and establishing a renewed mission: "We are in and of the city of Cleveland. We leverage our unique location and strategic partnerships to equip learners with knowledge and future-ready skills" .
Today, CSU's campus features more than 40 buildings, including the 21-story Rhodes Tower—the second tallest educational building in the United States—and has transformed from a commuter school into an anchor institution driving development in Cleveland's Campus District