CMU vs. Hope College

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Hope College? 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
Hope College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Hope College Holland, MI
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Hope College Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • Hope College 3,395
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • Hope College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • Hope College #252
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • Hope College Reformed Church in America
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Hope College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • Hope College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • Hope College $41,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • Hope College $41,970
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • Hope College $12,950
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • Hope College $30,700
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • Hope College $24,945
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • Hope College 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • Hope College 5,150
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • Hope College 4,081
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Hope College 79.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Hope College 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • Hope College 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • Hope College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • Hope College 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • Hope College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • Hope College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • Hope College
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • Hope College 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Hope College 1100/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • Hope College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • Hope College

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • Hope College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Hope College
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • Hope College 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • Hope College $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • Hope College 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • Hope College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • Hope College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • Hope College 40%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • Hope College 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • Hope College Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • Hope College No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • Hope College 84%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • Hope College 2%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • Hope College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • Hope College 8%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • Hope College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • Hope College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • Hope College 2%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • Hope College 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • Hope College 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • Hope College 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • Hope College 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Central Michigan University is larger than Hope College based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 3,395 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Hope College is in Holland, MI (Small City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Hope College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Hope College 9:1.

CMU vs. Hope College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or Hope College? 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 Hope College ($17,575 vs. $30,700).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 3% lower than at Hope College ($12,564 vs. $12,950).
  • Hope College is 184.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $27,210 more per year; $41,970.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 184.3% higher at Hope College than at Central Michigan University (about $27,210 more per year; $41,970.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hope College than at Central Michigan University (97% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hope College students is 91.3% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($24,945 vs. $13,042).

CMU vs. Hope College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hope College (1220) is 140 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming Hope College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at CMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Hope College 1100/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; Hope College 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; Hope College - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Hope College students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than Hope College (79.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 20.1% at Hope College.

CMU vs. Hope College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and Hope College? 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).

  • Hope College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Hope College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hope College and CMU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Hope College and CMU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Hope College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.