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WMU Eastern Michigan University Michigan State GVSU Middle Tennessee State University WSU UT Martin Arkansas State University Saginaw Valley State University Michigan Ole Miss Oakland| Central Michigan University | University of Memphis | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CMU | Memphis | ||
| Location | Mount Pleasant, MI | Memphis, TN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,399 | 21,736 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #802 | #926 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmich.edu | memphis.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CMU | Memphis | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $13,740 | $8,520 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $13,740 | $12,960 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,178 | $10,344 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,826 | $13,656 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,638 | $11,234 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 93% |
Admission |
CMU | Memphis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,102 | 15,640 | ||
| Admitted | 16,474 | 14,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91% | 93.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.4% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.47 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1210 | 905/1205 | ||
| 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 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CMU | Memphis | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CMU | Memphis | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,500 | $42,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 37% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $261 |
Diversity |
CMU | Memphis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 37% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 0% |
Students |
CMU | Memphis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 88% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 17% | ||
Campus |
CMU | Memphis | ||
| 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
- University of Memphis is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (21,736 students vs. 14,399 students)
CMU vs. Memphis Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CMU or Memphis?
- Central Michigan University is 61.3% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($13,740.00 vs. $8,520.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6% higher at CMU than University of Memphis ($13,740.00 vs. $12,960.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Memphis than CMU ($13,656 vs. $15,826)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 17.7% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($10,344 vs. $12,178)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University than University of Memphis (95% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Memphis students is 5.6% larger than aid received Central Michigan University ($11,234 vs. $10,638)
CMU vs. Memphis Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CMU or Memphis? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Memphis or CMU .
- The average SAT score at Central Michigan University (1049) is 20 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
- Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Memphis (22)
- Accepted freshman Memphis students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at CMU (3.47)
- Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than CMU (91%)
CMU vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CMU or Memphis? 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 Memphis and CMU.
- The graduation rate at CMU is higher than University of Memphis (54% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Central Michigan University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Memphis graduates after ten years. ($44,500 vs. $42,200)
- University of Memphis students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($25,250 vs. $27,000)
- Memphis graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($261 vs. $279)
- More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 37%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/