Quad

Head-to-head

Central Michigan
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's yield is 18 pts higher than Central Michigan's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

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

    Aid generosity
  3. 3

    Central Michigan graduates 6 pts more of its students than Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (62% vs. 56%)

    Graduation rate
  4. 4

    Central Michigan is more diverse (index 0.41 vs. 0.35)

    Diversity index
  5. 5

    Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has 5 pts more first-gen students than Central Michigan (34% vs. 29%)

    First-generation students
  6. 6

    Central Michigan grads earn $3.5K more ten years out than Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's ($55,874 vs. $52,416)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Central Michigan admits 90%, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania 93%; Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's yield is higher, at 29%.

Acceptance rate
Central Michigan90%
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania93%
Quad's selectivity
  • Central MichiganOpen
  • Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaOpen
SAT middle 50%Axis 900–1600
Central Michigan
970–1210
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
990–1190
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Central MichiganRigor and GPA very important38%
  • Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaSchool record and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Central Michigan and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are about the same size; Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Central Michigan10K
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania9.2K
Pell Grant share
Central Michigan31%
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania32%

Majors and faculty

Early Childhood Education and Teaching leads at Central Michigan, and Business Administration and Management at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

Students per faculty member
Central Michigan16 to 1
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania19 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Central MichiganEarly Childhood Education and Teaching8%
  • Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBusiness Administration and Management, General14%

What each costs

Central Michigan and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania cost about the same a year on average; Central Michigan's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Central Michigan$18.7K
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$18.9K
Aid generosity
Central Michigan40%
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania32%

What each pays off

Central Michigan's former students earn more, a median $55.9K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Central Michigan$55.9K
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$52.4K
Graduation rate
Central Michigan62%
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania56%

How each has changed

Applications grew at Central Michigan, which got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Central MichiganGrowing+20%
  • Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaNot reported
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About 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