AQ vs. CMU

Deciding between Aquinas College and Central Michigan University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Aquinas College
Central Michigan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AQ Grand Rapids, MI
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • AQ Midsize City
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • AQ 1,157
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • AQ Private 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AQ #753
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AQ Roman Catholic
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • AQ Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AQ
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AQ $40,218
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • AQ $11,680
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • AQ $18,018
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AQ $33,535
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AQ 100%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AQ 2,193
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • AQ 1,971
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AQ 89.9%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • AQ 11.8%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AQ 1030
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • AQ 23
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • AQ 3.52
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AQ A-
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • AQ Easy
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • AQ
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • AQ 20/26
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • AQ 910/1140
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AQ Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AQ
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AQ 10:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AQ
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AQ 52%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AQ $40,000
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AQ 60%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AQ $26,000
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AQ $268
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AQ 47%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • AQ 53%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AQ Very Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • AQ No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • AQ 82%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • AQ 1%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • AQ 3%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • AQ 6%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • AQ 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AQ 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AQ 3%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • AQ 1%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AQ 3%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AQ 87%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AQ 10%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AQ Yes
  • CMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AQ No
  • CMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AQ Yes
  • CMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AQ Yes
  • CMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AQ No
  • CMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI with Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Aquinas College is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Aquinas College 10:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

AQ vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AQ or CMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than AQ ($17,575 vs. $18,018).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 7% lower than at Central Michigan University ($11,680 vs. $12,564).
  • Aquinas College is 172.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $25,458 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 172.5% higher at AQ than at Central Michigan University (about $25,458 more per year; $40,218.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Central Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 157.1% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($33,535 vs. $13,042).

AQ vs. CMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AQ or CMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CMU and AQ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 50 points higher than at AQ (1030).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at AQ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 910/1140; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Aquinas College 20/26; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AQ - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than CMU (89.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at AQ vs. 11.3% at CMU.

AQ vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AQ and CMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Central Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.