Quad

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MIQuad's selectivityOpen
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 8, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 500–620 (fall 2024: 490–610)Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 20–28 (fall 2024: 21–27)Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 79% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 75%)Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Central Michigan admits about 9 in 10 applicants (90%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 23% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

90%

90%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

21,969

Admitted

19,732

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.48

SAT middle 50%

970–1210

8001600
ACT middle 50%

20–28

1836
Applications +20% since fall 2014 · admit rate 69% → 90%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 10,035 undergrads, where 31% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

10K

undergrads · larger than 89% of colleges

Diversity index

0.41

Pell Grant

31%

below the median

First generation

29%

below the median

Distant townNCAA D-I FBS · Mid-American ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.36 → 0.41 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Early Childhood Education and Teaching (8% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 75% of faculty are full-time. Spends $8,718 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

Most popular major

Early Childhood Education and Teaching

8% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Management Information Systems and Services

$95.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

75%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$8.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $18,749 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5.5K less than the national median. The 94% who received grants paid $17,575 on average; the other 6% paid the full sticker price of $31,058.

40%

$18.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $5.5K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$31,058 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
26% · avg $6K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 40% of full price

Federal loans

69%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $55,874 ten years after enrolling, more than at 57% of colleges; 62% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.3 years of that salary.

62%

62%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$55.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$27K

≈ $286/month for 10 years

Retention

79%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 56% → 59% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 11%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 20% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 69% to 90%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −11% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +20%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 69% → 90%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.36 → 0.41

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

93% admit · SAT 1090 · 9.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

The University of Tennessee-Martin

88% admit · SAT 1090 · 4.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso public
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East Tennessee State University

86% admit · SAT 1090 · 10K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso public
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Indiana University of Pennsylvania

91% admit · SAT 1075 · 6.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Central Michigan University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Central Michigan University (2026)

    Central Michigan University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 169248 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything