CMU vs. Oakland

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Oakland University? 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
Oakland University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Oakland Rochester Hills, MI
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Oakland Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • Oakland 15,768
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • Oakland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • Oakland #766
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • Oakland -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Oakland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • Oakland

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • Oakland $15,262
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • Oakland $23,188
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • Oakland $10,932
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • Oakland $12,208
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • Oakland $12,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • Oakland 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • Oakland 17,593
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • Oakland 15,454
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Oakland 87.8%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Oakland 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • Oakland 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • Oakland
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • Oakland 3.51
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • Oakland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • Oakland Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • Oakland
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • Oakland
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Oakland 1030/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • Oakland Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • Oakland

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • Oakland 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Oakland
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • Oakland 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • Oakland $46,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • Oakland 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • Oakland $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • Oakland $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • Oakland 42%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • Oakland 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • Oakland Low
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • Oakland No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • Oakland 76%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • Oakland 4%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • Oakland 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • Oakland 3%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • Oakland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • Oakland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • Oakland 3%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • Oakland 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • Oakland 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • Oakland 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • Oakland 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Oakland University is larger than CMU based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 14,488 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Oakland University is in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Oakland University 17:1.

CMU vs. Oakland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or Oakland? 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 Oakland University than CMU ($12,208 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 13% lower than at Central Michigan University ($10,932 vs. $12,564).
  • Oakland University is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $502 more per year; $15,262.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.1% higher at Oakland than at Central Michigan University (about $8,428 more per year; $23,188.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University as at Oakland University (94% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Oakland University students ($13,042 vs. $12,988).

CMU vs. Oakland Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oakland University (1130) is 50 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Oakland University 1030/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; Oakland - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Oakland students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than Oakland (87.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 14.7% at Oakland.

CMU vs. Oakland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and Oakland? 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).

  • Central Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Oakland University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakland University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oakland graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 51%)

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.