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Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Private nonprofit Fayette, MO · Rural · Plains · 100% data
B Selectivity B- Earnings C Diversity
Graduation Rate
52% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$48,991 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$22,766 D+
33% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
57% B
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +20% vs avg
Graduation -9% vs avg
Net Price 33% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 12.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.2 over 20 years.

12.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $12.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,021,335.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 20% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $12.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Matters

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a private college in Fayette, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
1,040
Setting
Rural
Designations
71
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Education

Why students choose Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 49% overall
B-
Earnings
$48,991 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D+
Affordability
$22,766/yr net
C-
Graduation
52% graduate
B
Selectivity
57% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.59 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of about 1,040 students, Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO, is a solid choice for those looking for a tight-knit academic community. This school caters particularly well to students interested in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Biology & Biomedical, and Criminal Justice. The acceptance rate of 57% indicates that there is room for diverse perspectives, making it a welcoming environment for students ready to engage in meaningful discussions and experiences.

Life after graduation looks promising, with a reported earnings average of $48,991 ten years post-graduation. This figure suggests that graduates are finding their footing in various career paths. While we don't have specific mobility rates, the affordability factor is notable, especially for those who qualify for Pell Grants—40% of the student body benefits from this financial assistance, which can help ease the burden of educational costs.

When it comes to the financial aspect, the net price after aid sits at $22,766, and graduates carry a median debt of $17,619. This means students are likely to find a balance between investment in their education and potential earnings. Those who tend to thrive here are often self-motivated and eager to take advantage of both academic offerings and community resources, setting themselves up for success in their chosen fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Fayette, Missouri, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 57% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,048. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

Acceptance Rate
57%
Retention Rate
62%
SAT Average
1048
ACT Midpoint
21
SAT Range
960–1045
ACT Range
17–23
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,712
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.59
First-Gen Students
44%
Applicants
1,166
Admitted
1,141

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is $28,260, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,766. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,260 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,619 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$28,260
Out-of-State
$28,260
Avg Net Price
$22,766
Median Debt
$17,619
Pell Grant Rate
40%
Federal Loan Rate
61%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$20,260
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,894
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,680
Family Income $110K+
$27,411

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences earn a median of $48,991, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$43,860
8 Years
$46,676
10 Years
$48,991
Debt-to-Earnings
0.36x
Earning > $25K
67%

Earnings Trajectory

$43,860 6yr $46,676 8yr $48,991 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (119)
36%
100% (119)
36%
100% (119)
36%
100% (119)
36%

How Central Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation52%Earnings 10yr$49KNet Price$23KRetention62%Median Debt$18KPell Grant Rate40%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$20K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$21K$48-75K$27K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,766/year ($91,064 total). Graduates earn $48,991 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,112,399 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,021,335 (12.2× your investment). The median debt is $17,619, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$91,064
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,112,399
Net Return
$1,021,335
ROI Multiple
12.2×
Cost Per Year
$22,766
Median Debt
$17,619
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
52%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.63
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.04
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.7%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$5,927,387
Investment Income
$-5,086,533

Top Programs

The fields Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Fayette, Missouri, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 57% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,048. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is $28,260, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,766. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,260 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,619 in federal student loans.

Is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences earn a median of $48,991, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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