Central Michigan University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Central Michigan University is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, with about 10,035 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 89.82% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $55,874 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $14,760
- 2024 Average Net Price: $17,597 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 89.82% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,035 86.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 58.72%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 29.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 9.6% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 75.3%
- Average SAT Score: 1091
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,329
- Applicants (IPEDS): 18,102
- Room & Board: $12,564 annual estimate
Central Michigan University: what the data shows
Common questions about Central Michigan University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Central Michigan University?
Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (ZIP 48859).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Central Michigan University public or private?
Central Michigan University is a Public institution.
How much does Central Michigan University cost?
Published tuition: $14,760.
Average net price after aid: $17,597.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,185 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,139 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,601 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,269 |
| $110,001+ | $21,403 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $59,040.
How hard is it to get into Central Michigan University?
Admission rate: 89.82%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1091 and midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Central Michigan University?
Total enrollment: 10,035 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 11,329 students.
Graduate enrollment: 4,295 students.
About 86% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Central Michigan University?
150%-time completion rate: 58.72%.
First-year retention: 75.4%.
What do graduates of Central Michigan University earn?
Median earnings: $46,567 six years after entry; $55,874 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
31.43% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Central Michigan University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Information Technology (425 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (300 completions)
- Psychology, General (151 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (142 completions)
- Computer Science (125 completions)
- Medicine (102 completions)
- Community Organization and Advocacy (93 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (90 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (84 completions)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management (84 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Central Michigan University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 89.82%; completion rate 58.72%; median earnings $55,874 at 10 years; net price $17,597. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$14,760
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Central Michigan University was $14,760.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$17,597
2024 Value
In 2024 Central Michigan University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,597.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$70,388 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$17,597 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$59,040 4-Year Tuition
$12,564 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,250 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$28,574 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$114,296 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Central Michigan University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.43% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
68.72% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Central Michigan University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Central Michigan University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $11,220 | $23,670 | $15,457 |
| 2014 | $11,550 | $23,670 | $15,558 |
| 2015 | $11,850 | $23,670 | $14,509 |
| 2016 | $12,150 | $23,670 | $15,666 |
| 2017 | $12,510 | $23,670 | $15,531 |
| 2018 | $12,960 | $24,120 | $15,677 |
| 2019 | $12,960 | $24,120 | $15,981 |
| 2020 | $12,960 | $24,120 | $16,007 |
| 2021 | $13,200 | $13,200 | $16,810 |
| 2022 | $13,650 | $13,650 | $14,630 |
| 2023 | $14,190 | $14,190 | $16,041 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
89.82% Acceptance Rate
18,102 Total Applicants
16,474 Students Admitted
2,044 First-Time Students Enrolled
12.41% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1091
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Central Michigan University reported total enrollment of about 10,035 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 38% male and 62% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (76.1%), Black or African American (8.2%), and Hispanic or Latino (5.8%). About 31.43% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 29.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Central Michigan University in 2024 is 10,035 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 11,329 students. Graduate enrollment is about 4,295 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 76.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
39.51% 100% Completion Time
58.72% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 39.51% of students graduating from Central Michigan University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Information Technology: 64% male / 36% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 50% male / 50% female
- Psychology, General: 15% male / 85% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Central Michigan University.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$55,874 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
48.32% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
693.80% Return on Investment
4.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Central Michigan University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 184 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Information Technology: 425 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 300 completions
3. Psychology, General: 151 completions
4. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 142 completions
5. Computer Science: 125 completions
6. Medicine: 102 completions
7. Community Organization and Advocacy: 93 completions
8. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 90 completions
9. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 84 completions
Most popular programs at Central Michigan University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Central Michigan University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Central Michigan University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 75.3%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,682
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,718
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, MI, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Information Technology, Business Administration and Management, General, Psychology, General. Enrollment is approximately 10,035 students. Student body composition includes White (76.1%), Black or African American (8.2%), Hispanic or Latino (5.8%). The admission rate is 89.82%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1091. The 150%-time completion rate is 58.72%. Approximately 31.43% of students receive Pell Grants. About 29.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Location
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 184 distinct degree programs, Central Michigan University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Central Michigan University located?
Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI.
What is Central Michigan University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Central Michigan University is 89.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 18,102 applicants and 16,474 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Central Michigan University cost?
Reported tuition is $14,760 and average net price is $17,597 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,564 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Central Michigan University?
Central Michigan University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 11,329 students, White (76.1%), Black or African American (8.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Central Michigan University?
About 29.3% of students at Central Michigan University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Central Michigan University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Central Michigan University reports midpoint SAT about 1091 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Central Michigan University earn?
Median earnings are $46,567 six years after entry and $55,874 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Central Michigan University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 58.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Central Michigan University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Central Michigan University public or private?
Central Michigan University is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, MI.
Is Central Michigan University an HBCU?
No. Central Michigan University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Central Michigan University a tribal college?
No. Central Michigan University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Michigan college costs
- Michigan colleges by ROI
- Mount Pleasant, Michigan city profile
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Michigan
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.