CMU vs. MIAD

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design? 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • MIAD Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • MIAD Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • MIAD 838
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • MIAD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • MIAD
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • MIAD -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • MIAD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • MIAD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • MIAD $43,743
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • MIAD $10,955
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • MIAD $27,579
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • MIAD $26,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • MIAD 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • MIAD 1,039
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • MIAD 629
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • MIAD 60.5%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • MIAD 33.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • MIAD 1040
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • MIAD 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • MIAD 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • MIAD B
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • MIAD Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • MIAD Low
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • MIAD 20/28
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • MIAD 940/1140
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • MIAD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • MIAD Aug 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • MIAD 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • MIAD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
    • Communications Technology (7%)
    • Architecture (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • MIAD 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • MIAD $36,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • MIAD 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • MIAD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • MIAD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • MIAD 19%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • MIAD 81%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • MIAD Medium
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • MIAD No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • MIAD 68%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • MIAD 4%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • MIAD 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • MIAD 13%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • MIAD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • MIAD 5%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • MIAD 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • MIAD 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • MIAD 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • MIAD 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than MIAD based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 838 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 11:1.

CMU vs. MIAD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or MIAD? 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 MIAD ($17,575 vs. $27,579).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are 12.8% lower than at Central Michigan University ($10,955 vs. $12,564).
  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is 196.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $28,983 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 196.4% higher at MIAD than at Central Michigan University (about $28,983 more per year; $43,743.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design than at Central Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design students is 99.5% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($26,015 vs. $13,042).

CMU vs. MIAD Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 40 points higher than at MIAD (1040).
  • Incoming CMU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at MIAD (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 940/1140.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design 20/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; MIAD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIAD Aug 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at MIAD (3.08).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than MIAD (60.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 33.2% at MIAD.

CMU vs. MIAD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and MIAD? 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).

  • Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than MIAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and CMU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and CMU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More MIAD 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.