Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI · Public · Town (distant) · Carnegie R1/R2 · CMU
Public institution in Mount Pleasant, MI · 9,916 undergraduates · 91% acceptance rate · $55,874 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 12%Undergraduates
- Top 25%Out-of-state tuition & fees
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $16,041753rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $14,190905th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $14,190506th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $26,470783rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $27,0001,604th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $55,874744th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $46,567761st highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 61.8%698th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 73.7%1,037th highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 91.0%1,272nd most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1099688th highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 23494th highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 9,916256th largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 16.0:11,471st smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 30.6%1,166th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 119 mi (DTW)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- $40
- Personal essay
- Optional / not required
- Writing supplement
- No
Supplemental prompts (2025-26)
- At the University of Michigan, we are focused on developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. In your essay, share with us how you are prepared to contribute to these goals. This could include the people, places, experiences, or aspirations that have shaped your journey and future plans (required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 300 word maximum).
- Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate college or school (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests (required for all applicants; 100 word minimum; 500 word maximum)?
Source: Aristotle Circle 2025-26 supplemental prompt roundup
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 83 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $72,022 | $74,367 |
| Mechanical EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $70,456 | $74,200 |
| Management Information Systems and ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $65,915 | $63,799 |
| Construction Engineering TechnologiesEngineering Technology | bachelors | $64,990 | $58,673 |
| Computer Science | bachelors | $64,121 | $66,105 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $63,005 | $68,499 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $57,995 | $63,430 |
| International BusinessBusiness | bachelors | $55,964 | $49,436 |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $54,996 | $51,012 |
| MarketingBusiness | bachelors | $54,180 | $52,684 |
| StatisticsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | $52,941 | $57,318 |
| Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $52,107 | $46,538 |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1892source
- Athletic nickname: "Chippewas"source
- Kelly/Shorts Stadium seats about 32,885source
- Competes in NCAA Division Isource
- Motto: "Sapientia, Virtus, Amicitia (Latin)"source
- Formerly known as "Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute" (1892–1895)source
- Formerly known as "Central Michigan Normal School" (1895–1959)source
- Athletic conference: MACsource
- Football rivalry: Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan (since 1902)source
- Plays for the "Victory Cannon" (since 1907)source
- Fight song: ""The Fighting Chippewa[[Central Michigan University#Hail to the Chippewa! (Secondary Fight Song)"source
- Notable alum: Gerald Ford (38th U.S. President)source
- Notable alum: Larry Page (Google co-founder)source
- Notable alum: Madonna (Singer and performer)source
Athletics — 13 sports
NCAA Division I-FBS · NCAA Division I
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $6,704,261 (M $3,868,501 · W $2,835,760)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Notable alumni
- Gerald Ford38th U.S. President
- Larry PageGoogle co-founder
- MadonnaSinger and performerattended
Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.
Key links
- Official websitecmich.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 169248)
- Compare colleges in MIRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in MichiganEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Central Michigan University vs Eastern Michigan UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 13 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.