CMU vs. Purdue Northwest

Should I go to Central Michigan University or Purdue University Northwest? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CMU or Purdue Northwest is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Central Michigan University vs. Purdue University Northwest comparison
Central Michigan University Purdue University Northwest College 3 College 4
Central Michigan University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

CMU Purdue Northwest
Location Mount Pleasant, MI Hammond, Indiana
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 14,557 8,911
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #715
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cmich.edu pnw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CMU Purdue Northwest
Tuition (In State) $13,200 $7,373
Tuition (Out of State) $13,200 $14,364
Room & Board $11,248 $8,215
Avg Net Price $15,605 $9,162
Avg Grant Aid $11,314 $7,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 75%

Admission

CMU Purdue Northwest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,888 5,670
Admitted 15,701 4,129
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 72.8%
Enrolled % 12.9% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 18/24
SAT Range 980/1220 950/1170
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, 2025

Academics

CMU Purdue Northwest
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

CMU Purdue Northwest
Graduation Rate 54% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,500 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 54% -
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $279 N/A

Diversity

CMU Purdue Northwest
% Men 40% 44%
% Women 60% 56%
Racial Diversity Low -
HBCU No No
% White 79% 0%
% Black 8% 0%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

CMU Purdue Northwest
% In-State 90% 87%
% Out-of-State 9% 13%

Campus

CMU Purdue Northwest
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Michigan University is larger than than Purdue Northwest based on total student enrollment (14,557 students vs. 8,911 students)

CMU vs. Purdue Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or Purdue Northwest?

  • Central Michigan University is 79% more expensive to attend than Purdue Northwest for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $7,373.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.8% higher at Purdue Northwest than Central Michigan University ($14,364.00 vs. $13,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Northwest than CMU ($9,162 vs. $15,605)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 36.9% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($8,215 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University than Purdue University Northwest (96% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 60% larger than aid received Purdue University Northwest ($11,314 vs. $7,070)

CMU vs. Purdue Northwest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMU or Purdue Northwest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue Northwest or CMU .

  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Purdue Northwest (3.19)
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Purdue Northwest (72.8%)

CMU vs. Purdue Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CMU or Purdue Northwest? 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 Purdue Northwest and CMU.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/