CMU vs. NDSU

Deciding between Central Michigan University and North Dakota State University Main Campus? 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
North Dakota State University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • NDSU Fargo, ND
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • NDSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • NDSU 11,952
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • NDSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • NDSU #601
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • NDSU -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • NDSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • NDSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • NDSU $11,110
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • NDSU $15,764
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • NDSU $9,928
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • NDSU $15,596
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • NDSU $6,409
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • NDSU 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • NDSU 7,228
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • NDSU 6,864
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • NDSU 95%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • NDSU 32%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • NDSU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • NDSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • NDSU 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • NDSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • NDSU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • NDSU
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • NDSU 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • NDSU 968/1216
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • NDSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • NDSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • NDSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • NDSU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Agriculture (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • NDSU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • NDSU $53,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • NDSU 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • NDSU $23,300
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • NDSU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • NDSU 49%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • NDSU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • NDSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • NDSU No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • NDSU 86%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • NDSU 1%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • NDSU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • NDSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • NDSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • NDSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • NDSU 2%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • NDSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • NDSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • NDSU 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • NDSU 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with North Dakota State University Main Campus in Fargo, ND on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than NDSU based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 11,952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); North Dakota State University Main Campus is in Fargo, ND (Midsize City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; North Dakota State University Main Campus 19:1.

CMU vs. NDSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or NDSU? 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 North Dakota State University Main Campus than CMU ($15,596 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Dakota State University Main Campus are 21% lower than at Central Michigan University ($9,928 vs. $12,564).
  • Central Michigan University is 32.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NDSU (about $3,650 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $11,110.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at NDSU than at Central Michigan University (about $1,004 more per year; $15,764.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University than at North Dakota State University Main Campus (94% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 103.5% larger than aid received by North Dakota State University Main Campus students ($13,042 vs. $6,409).

CMU vs. NDSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Dakota State University Main Campus (1090) is 10 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at NDSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; North Dakota State University Main Campus 968/1216.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; North Dakota State University Main Campus 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; NDSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: NDSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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%) than CMU (89.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 32% at NDSU.

CMU vs. NDSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and NDSU? 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).

  • 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 a median of about $9,100 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,600 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates have a $3,700 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($23,300 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NDSU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.