CMU vs. St. Cloud State University

Should I go to Central Michigan University or Saint Cloud State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CMU or St. Cloud State University 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.

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Central Michigan University vs. Saint Cloud State University comparison
Central Michigan University Saint Cloud State University College 3 College 4
Central Michigan University Saint Cloud State University
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Overview

CMU St. Cloud State University
Location Mount Pleasant, MI Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 14,557 10,420
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #715 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cmich.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CMU St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $13,200 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $13,200 $18,695
Room & Board $11,248 $9,950
Avg Net Price $15,605 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $11,314 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 98%

Admission

CMU St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,888 4,810
Admitted 15,701 4,583
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 95.3%
Enrolled % 12.9% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 18/24
SAT Range 980/1220 1027/1200
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 15, 2025

Academics

CMU St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

CMU St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 54% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,500 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $232

Diversity

CMU St. Cloud State University
% Men 40% 43%
% Women 60% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 73%
% Black 8% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

CMU St. Cloud State University
% In-State 90% 75%
% Out-of-State 9% 11%

Campus

CMU St. Cloud State University
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 St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (14,557 students vs. 10,420 students)

CMU vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or St. Cloud State University?

  • Central Michigan University is 49.8% more expensive to attend than St. Cloud State University for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $8,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.6% higher at St. Cloud State University than Central Michigan University ($18,695.00 vs. $13,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than CMU ($14,065 vs. $15,605)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 13% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($9,950 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Cloud State University than Central Michigan University (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 87.3% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($11,314 vs. $6,042)

CMU vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Central Michigan University (1049) is 19 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than CMU (78.9%)

CMU vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CMU or St. Cloud State University? 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 St. Cloud State University and CMU.

  • The graduation rate at CMU is higher than Saint Cloud State University (54% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $2,200 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $44,500)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 54%)

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