Central Michigan University
#2 Best Education Colleges in MichiganBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 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.
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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
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,091. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 60%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Central Michigan University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $14,760 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $17,597 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,185 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Central Michigan University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Michigan University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Central Michigan University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 90% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,091. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 60%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Michigan University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Central Michigan University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $14,760 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $17,597 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,185 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.66 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.66 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note