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WMU Eastern Michigan University Michigan State GVSU WSU ISU Saginaw Valley State University Michigan Oakland Ferris State University Minnesota University of Minnesota-Duluth| Central Michigan University | North Dakota State University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CMU | NDSU | ||
| Location | Mount Pleasant, MI | Fargo, ND | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,399 | 11,952 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #802 | #591 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmich.edu | ndsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CMU | NDSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $13,740 | $9,309 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $13,740 | $13,963 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,178 | $9,565 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,826 | $16,461 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,638 | $5,841 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 78% |
Admission |
CMU | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,102 | 7,331 | ||
| Admitted | 16,474 | 7,024 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91% | 95.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.4% | 31.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.47 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 19/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1210 | 968/1216 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CMU | NDSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CMU | NDSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,500 | $53,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,300 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $240 |
Diversity |
CMU | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 86% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
CMU | NDSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 88% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 65% | ||
Campus |
CMU | NDSU | ||
| 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
- Central Michigan University is larger than than NDSU based on total student enrollment (14,399 students vs. 11,952 students)
CMU vs. NDSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CMU or NDSU?
- Central Michigan University is 47.6% more expensive to attend than NDSU for in-state tuition ($13,740.00 vs. $9,309.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at NDSU than Central Michigan University ($13,963.00 vs. $13,740.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than NDSU ($15,826 vs. $16,461)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 27.3% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($9,565 vs. $12,178)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University than North Dakota State University Main Campus (95% vs. 78%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 82.1% larger than aid received North Dakota State University Main Campus ($10,638 vs. $5,841)
CMU vs. NDSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CMU or NDSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NDSU or CMU .
- The average SAT score at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1091) is 42 points higher than at CMU (1049)
- Incoming NDSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CMU (23)
- Accepted freshman NDSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at CMU (3.47)
- NDSU has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than CMU (91%)
CMU vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CMU or NDSU? 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 NDSU and CMU.
- The graduation rate at CMU is the same as at North Dakota State University Main Campus (54% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn on average $9,100 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($53,600 vs. $44,500)
- North Dakota State University Main Campus students graduate with a $3,700 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($23,300 vs. $27,000)
- NDSU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
- More NDSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/