CMU vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

CMU vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or Ship? 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 Central Michigan University than Ship ($17,575 vs. $23,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 5.8% lower than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ($12,564 vs. $13,340).
• Central Michigan University is 7.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $1,040 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Ship than at Central Michigan University (about $1,214 more per year; $15,974.00 vs. $14,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (94% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 93% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($13,042 vs. $6,756).

CMU vs. Ship Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1100) is 20 points higher than at CMU (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• 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; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Ship (3.23).
• CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than Ship (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 17.5% at Ship.

CMU vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and Ship? 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).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
• Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.