Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (89% and 90%).
$40 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
11% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How Central Michigan reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both considered. 38% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 52% of first-years sent an SAT and 5% an ACT. Of the 17% whose high school reported a rank, 25% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
95% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 90% of first-year applicants
2,095 applied · 1,982 admitted · 966 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Minimum high school GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date March 1
- Winter entry: priority date December 1
- Spring entry: priority date December 1
- Summer entry: priority date March 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Not required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: October 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- There's no set reply date.
- $350 housing deposit, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: One year.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.48
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.018%
- 3.75–3.9920%
- 3.50–3.7415%
- 3.25–3.4915%
- 3.00–3.2417%
- below 3.014%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–3.99.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 17.9% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 20.2% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 15.4% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 15.2% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 17.1% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 12.3% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 1.7% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.2% |
| below 1.0 | 0.1% |
25% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 56% in the top quarter, of the 17% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1090 on the SAT, 80 points below the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
43% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1000–1199.
14% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
41% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 500–599.
40% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 500–599.
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 52% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 5% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
At least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Central Michigan University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)