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Michigan State WMU Eastern Michigan University Oakland Ferris State University WSU Saginaw Valley State University Michigan Hope College UM-Dearborn Michigan Tech Northern Michigan University| Central Michigan University | Grand Valley State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CMU | GVSU | ||
| Location | Mount Pleasant, MI | Allendale, MI | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,557 | 21,648 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #715 | #583 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmich.edu | gvsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CMU | GVSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $13,200 | $13,952 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $13,200 | $19,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $10,140 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,605 | $17,105 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,314 | $8,811 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 93% |
Admission |
CMU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,888 | 17,123 | ||
| Admitted | 15,701 | 15,474 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.9% | 90.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 25% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.47 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 960/1210 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CMU | GVSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CMU | GVSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,500 | $44,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 62% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $258 |
Diversity |
CMU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
CMU | GVSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 91% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 8% | ||
Campus |
CMU | GVSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Grand Valley State University is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (21,648 students vs. 14,557 students)
CMU vs. GVSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CMU or GVSU?
- Grand Valley State University is 5.7% more expensive to attend than CMU for in-state tuition ($13,952.00 vs. $13,200.00)
- Out of state tuition is 50.4% higher at GVSU than Central Michigan University ($19,856.00 vs. $13,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than GVSU ($15,605 vs. $17,105)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grand Valley State University are 10.9% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($10,140 vs. $11,248)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University than Grand Valley State University (96% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 28.4% larger than aid received Grand Valley State University ($11,314 vs. $8,811)
CMU vs. GVSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CMU or GVSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between GVSU or CMU .
- The average SAT score at Grand Valley State University (1090) is 41 points higher than at CMU (1049)
- Incoming GVSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CMU (23)
- Accepted freshman GVSU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at CMU (3.47)
- GVSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than CMU (78.9%)
CMU vs. GVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CMU or GVSU? 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 GVSU and CMU.
- The graduation rate at GVSU is higher than Central Michigan University (63% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from Grand Valley State University earn on average $100 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $44,500)
- Grand Valley State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- GVSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More GVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/