Central Michigan University
#2 Best Education Colleges in Michigan- Graduation Rate
- 60% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $55,874 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,597 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 90% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Education Colleges in Michigan.
Every $1 spent returns $19.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,328,468.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 37% above the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $19.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.2%
- Top 84%
- Patents
- 33
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 146
- Downstream influence
Why Central Michigan University Matters
Central Michigan University is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and 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
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 10,035
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Central Michigan University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 90% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 960–1200. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,597 a year after grants and scholarships — 3% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $55,874 ten years after enrolling — 37% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 74% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Central Michigan University is a strong choice for students looking for a large community with diverse programs. With an acceptance rate of 90%, it welcomes a broad range of applicants, making it accessible to many. Students here dive into a variety of fields, including Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, and Communications. This variety allows us to tailor our education to our interests and career goals.
After graduation, alumni can expect to earn about $55,874 after ten years, which gives a solid indication of the potential return on investment. While the graduation rate sits at 60%, those who complete their degrees often find themselves in a good position to advance in their careers. Affordability is a key consideration, and Central Michigan maintains a reasonable net price of $17,597, making it a viable option for many students.
On the financial side, students typically graduate with a median debt of $27,000. This is an important factor to consider when evaluating how manageable debt will be post-college. Central Michigan tends to attract those who are determined and focused on their futures, often leading to successful outcomes in their chosen fields. This supportive environment can help foster the growth and resilience needed to thrive in today's job market.
Rankings
- #2 Best Education Colleges in Michigan
- #5 Best Communications Colleges in Michigan
- #11 Best Business Colleges in Michigan
- #12 Best MBA Programs in Michigan
- #13 Best Biology Colleges in Michigan
- #15 Best Online Colleges in Michigan
- #16 Best Psychology Colleges in Michigan
- #18 Best Colleges in Michigan
Can I Get In?
How selective Central Michigan University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Michigan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Central Michigan University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,091. The graduation rate is roughly 60%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1091
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 960–1200
- ACT Range
- 21–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 75%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,682
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.41
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 19,888
- Admitted
- 15,701
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 Michigan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Michigan University is $14,760, 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 $17,597. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,185 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,760
- Out-of-State
- $14,760
- Avg Net Price
- $17,597
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 69%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,185
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,139
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,601
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,403
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 Michigan University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Central Michigan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Michigan University earn a median of $55,874, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,567
- 8 Years
- $50,848
- 10 Years
- $55,874
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,237)
- 33%
- 100% (1,237)
- 33%
- 100% (1,237)
- 33%
- 100% (1,237)
- 33%
How Central Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Central Michigan University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Central Michigan University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,597/year ($70,388 total). Graduates earn $55,874 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,398,856 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,328,468 (19.9× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 60% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $70,388
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,398,856
- Net Return
- $1,328,468
- ROI Multiple
- 19.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,597
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 60%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Central Michigan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Michigan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.03%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 23.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,555
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Central Michigan University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 33 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.16%
- Top 84% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 33
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 146
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.14%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-39,185,359
Top Programs
The fields Central Michigan University 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.
- Business & Marketing 21% $75,805 early-career
- Education 13% $47,339 early-career
- Psychology 8% $34,164 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $34,755 early-career
- Health Professions 5% $40,390 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $46,992 early-career
- Communications 4% $48,724 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $47,206 early-career
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Central Michigan University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Michigan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Central Michigan University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,091. The graduation rate is roughly 60%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Michigan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Michigan University is $14,760, 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 $17,597. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,185 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Central Michigan University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Michigan University earn a median of $55,874, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Central Michigan University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Central Michigan University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.03%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 23.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Central Michigan University? 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 Michigan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Central Michigan University.
- Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato, MN · Close peer54% grad $56,922 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of ToledoToledo, OH · Close peer56% grad $50,632 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, SD · Close peer61% grad $55,070 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · Close peer62% grad $55,356 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · Close peer54% grad $52,416 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL · Close peer63% grad $54,501 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Central Michigan University? 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 Michigan University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note