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Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan · Public · 4-year · Town

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At a glance

Average net price
$17,597What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
90%
Graduation rate
60%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
10,035
In-state tuition
$14,760Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$14,760
SAT midpoint
1,115
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$55,874Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$17,597

Better than 26% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

60%

Better than 69% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$55,874

Better than 54% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$27,000

Better than 3% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$30,681

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$17,597

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Central Michigan University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time60%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return75%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$27,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$55,874

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Central Michigan University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$74,13559
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$71,45711
Mechanical Engineering$69,86235
Management Information Systems and Services$68,08837
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$66,14910
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$64,28414
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians$63,8628
Accounting and Related Services$62,43040
Finance and Financial Management Services$60,02364
Marketing$55,29680
Business Administration, Management and Operations$53,605188
Computer and Information Sciences, General$53,53920
Human Resources Management and Services$50,61232
Community Organization and Advocacy$49,103107
Economics$48,6368
Special Education and Teaching$46,52222
Public Administration$46,30130
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$45,22550
Health and Medical Administrative Services$44,16729
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$43,996181
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$42,90837
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$40,34665
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$40,333Not reported
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions$39,00824
Social Sciences, Other$37,408Not reported
Hospitality Administration/Management$37,18739
Design and Applied Arts$36,91756
Political Science and Government$36,00654
International Relations and National Security Studies$35,80216
Social Work$35,80052
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$35,31886
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$35,2351
History$33,00025
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$32,850189
Communication and Media Studies$31,91325
Psychology, General$31,166215
Biology, General$29,7922
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$29,20546
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$29,20324
Sociology$28,78516
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$28,65122
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$28,43036
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$28,23132
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$28,22049
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$27,511Not reported
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$26,13814
English Language and Literature, General$25,36729
Anthropology$25,26414
Journalism$25,03328
Music$24,91126
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$23,75255
Fine and Studio Arts$18,11710
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$17,96214
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesNot reported84
Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyNot reported61
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported35
Business/Corporate CommunicationsNot reported30
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reported27
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported22
StatisticsNot reported18
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralNot reported16
Public HealthNot reported15
Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyNot reported15
MathematicsNot reported15
Outdoor EducationNot reported13
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingNot reported11
Non-Professional Legal StudiesNot reported9
PhilosophyNot reported7
International BusinessNot reported7
Computer EngineeringNot reported6
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reported6
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity StudiesNot reported6
Geography and CartographyNot reported5
ChemistryNot reported4
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansNot reported4
Real EstateNot reported4
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringNot reported3
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reported3
PhysicsNot reported3
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported2
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported2
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported2
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, OtherNot reported1
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyNot reported1
DanceNot reported1
Materials SciencesNot reported1
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementNot reportedNot reported
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianNot reportedNot reported
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
LiteratureNot reportedNot reported
Applied MathematicsNot reportedNot reported

All 93 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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