CMU - CLAS vs. Messenger College

Should I go to Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences or Messenger College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CMU - CLAS or Messenger College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences vs. Messenger College comparison
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Overview

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
Location Fayette, MO Joplin, TX
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,080 19
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralmethodist.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $26,360 $9,480
Tuition (Out of State) $26,360 $9,480
Room & Board $8,910 $7,832
Avg Net Price $24,828 $17,197
Avg Grant Aid $18,044 $7,812
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,166 8
Admitted 1,141 4
Acceptance Rate 97.9% 50%
Enrolled % 25.8% 100%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 2.9
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 930/1090
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
Graduation Rate 43% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,600 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,875 N/A
Median Loan Payment $174 N/A

Diversity

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 78% 54%
% Black 8% 18%
% Hispanic 3% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
% In-State 59% 50%
% Out-of-State 27% 50%

Campus

CMU - CLAS Messenger College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,080 students vs. 19 students)

CMU - CLAS vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU - CLAS or Messenger College?

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is 178.1% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($26,360.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 178.1% higher at CMU - CLAS than Messenger College ($26,360.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messenger College than CMU - CLAS ($17,197 vs. $24,828)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 13.8% lower than costs at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($7,832 vs. $8,910)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences as Messenger College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students is 131% larger than aid received Messenger College ($18,044 vs. $7,812)

CMU - CLAS vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMU - CLAS or Messenger College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messenger College or CMU - CLAS .

  • Accepted freshman CMU - CLAS students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Messenger College (2.9)
  • CMU - CLAS has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than Messenger College (50%)

CMU - CLAS vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CMU - CLAS or Messenger College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Messenger College and CMU - CLAS.

  • The graduation rate at CMU - CLAS is higher than Messenger College (43% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences earn on average $14,600 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($38,600 vs. $24,000)
  • More CMU - CLAS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 40%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/