CMU vs. FGCU

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Florida Gulf Coast 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.

Central Michigan University
Florida Gulf Coast University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • FGCU Fort Myers, FL
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • FGCU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • FGCU 16,612
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • FGCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • FGCU #757
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • FGCU -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • FGCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • FGCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • FGCU $6,118
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • FGCU $25,162
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • FGCU $11,107
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • FGCU $12,863
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • FGCU $8,515
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • FGCU 62%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • FGCU 20,422
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • FGCU 12,956
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • FGCU 63.4%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • FGCU 20.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • FGCU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • FGCU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • FGCU 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • FGCU A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • FGCU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • FGCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • FGCU 20/25
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • FGCU 1040/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • FGCU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • FGCU Nov 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • FGCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • FGCU
    • Business (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • FGCU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • FGCU $45,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • FGCU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • FGCU $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • FGCU $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • FGCU 42%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • FGCU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • FGCU Medium
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • FGCU No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • FGCU 66%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • FGCU 2%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • FGCU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • FGCU 19%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • FGCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • FGCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • FGCU 3%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • FGCU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • FGCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • FGCU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • FGCU 18%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than CMU based on total student enrollment (16,612 students vs. 14,488 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

CMU vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or FGCU? 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 Florida Gulf Coast University than CMU ($12,863 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 11.6% lower than at Central Michigan University ($11,107 vs. $12,564).
  • Central Michigan University is 141.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than FGCU (about $8,642 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $6,118.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.5% higher at FGCU than at Central Michigan University (about $10,402 more per year; $25,162.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University than at Florida Gulf Coast University (94% vs. 62%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 53.2% larger than aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students ($13,042 vs. $8,515).

CMU vs. FGCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMU or FGCU? 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 FGCU and CMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Gulf Coast University (1120) is 40 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at FGCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Florida Gulf Coast University 1040/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; Florida Gulf Coast University 20/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; FGCU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FGCU Nov 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than FGCU (63.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 20.9% at FGCU.

CMU vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and FGCU? 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 Florida Gulf Coast University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of about $700 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Gulf Coast University graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, FGCU graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.