Quad
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Central Michigan

Key differences on Cost & aid

  1. 1

    Central Michigan's grants cover 40% of its full price on average, vs. 32% at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

    Aid generosity
  2. 2

    Central Michigan costs about $104 less per year on average than Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania ($18,749 vs. $18,853, all students)

    Average cost, all students

Cost & aid

Cost & aid

Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.

What students pay

Average cost, all students
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$18.9K
Central Michigan$18.7K
Aid generosity
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania32%
Central Michigan40%
Net price, with grants
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$16.1K
Central Michigan$17.6K

Grants

First-years receiving grants
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania96%
Central Michigan94%
Average grant
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$9.2K
Central Michigan$13K
Aid from the college
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania89%
Central Michigan93%

Sticker prices

On one scale, so the bars read against each other.

Sticker price, in-state
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$26.5K
Central Michigan$31.1K
Sticker price, out-of-state
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$38.3K
Central Michigan$31.1K
Tuition & fees, in-state
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$11K
Central Michigan$14.2K
Tuition & fees, out-of-state
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$22.9K
Central Michigan$14.2K
First-years paying out-of-state rates
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania10%
Central Michigan0%
What families at each income pay

Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .

Family income per year $150K

  • Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaPublished data end at $110K
  • Central MichiganPublished data end at $110K

    Merit possible; averaging $6K

Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.

Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises

MetricCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaCentral Michigan
Need-based aid up to Published data end at $110KPublished data end at $110K
Merit for students without need –26% got merit aid, averaging $6K
Published promise ––

A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.

Tuition guarantee & Promise program

MetricCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaCentral Michigan
Tuition guarantee NoNo
Promise program NoNo

From the colleges' Common Data Sets

MetricCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaCentral Michigan
Aid forms –FAFSA
Aid priority date or deadline ––
Need met, first-years ––
Average aid package, first-years –$21,584
College grant dollars given as merit –26%
Aid for international students –27 students, average $16.8K

All cost numbers in the table

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why