Central Michigan University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Michigan residents. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 9,916 students.
About This School
Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan with approximately 9,916 undergraduate students enrolled. Central Michigan University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 91%. The average net price after financial aid is $16,041 per year. The graduation rate is 62%, and the typical graduate earns $46,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Central Michigan University is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1892 as a private normal school and became a state institution in 1895. CMU is one of the eight research universities in Michigan and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". It has more than 14,000 students on its Mount Pleasant campus. CMU offers 200 academic programs at the undergraduate, master's, specialist, and doctoral levels. The Central Michigan Chippewas compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference in six men's and ten women's sports.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $16,041/year average net cost and $23,183 median debt, CMU is genuinely affordable, but a 62% graduation rate and 74% freshman retention rate suggest a meaningful chunk of students who start here don't finish — worth asking why. With median earnings of $46,200 a decade out, graduates land in a reasonable but not standout place financially, so this school makes the most sense if you're drawn to a specific program (health sciences and education are strong suits) or want a mid-sized public university experience without a heavy debt burden.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (9,916 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Michigan
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI · Public
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · Public
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · Public
Macomb Community College
Warren, MI · Public
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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