CMU vs. UM-Dearborn

Should I go to Central Michigan University or University of Michigan Dearborn? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CMU or UM-Dearborn 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

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

WSU WMU Eastern Michigan University Michigan State GVSU Michigan Saginaw Valley State University Oakland Ferris State University Michigan Tech Northern Michigan University UM-Flint
Central Michigan University vs. University of Michigan Dearborn comparison
Central Michigan University University of Michigan Dearborn College 3 College 4
Central Michigan University University of Michigan Dearborn
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 CMU UM-Dearborn
Location Mount Pleasant, MI Dearborn, MI
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 14,399 8,035
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #802 #405
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cmich.edu umich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CMU UM-Dearborn
Tuition (In State) $13,740 $14,544
Tuition (Out of State) $13,740 $30,960
Room & Board $12,178 $10,803
Avg Net Price $15,826 $12,798
Avg Grant Aid $10,638 $9,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 96%

Admission

 CMU UM-Dearborn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,102 12,373
Admitted 16,474 7,254
Acceptance Rate 91% 58.6%
Enrolled % 12.4% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 23/30
SAT Range 960/1210 990/1260
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 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 CMU UM-Dearborn
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (8%)

Outcomes

 CMU UM-Dearborn
Graduation Rate 54% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,500 $52,800
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

 CMU UM-Dearborn
% Men 13% 15%
% Women 17% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 79% 69%
% Black 8% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

 CMU UM-Dearborn
% In-State 88% 93%
% Out-of-State 8% 3%

Campus

 CMU UM-Dearborn
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Michigan University is larger than than UM-Dearborn based on total student enrollment (14,399 students vs. 8,035 students)

CMU vs. UM-Dearborn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or UM-Dearborn?

  • University of Michigan Dearborn is 5.9% more expensive to attend than CMU for in-state tuition ($14,544.00 vs. $13,740.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 125.3% higher at UM-Dearborn than Central Michigan University ($30,960.00 vs. $13,740.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan Dearborn than CMU ($12,798 vs. $15,826)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Dearborn are 12.7% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($10,803 vs. $12,178)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan Dearborn than Central Michigan University (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 11.4% larger than aid received University of Michigan Dearborn ($10,638 vs. $9,552)

CMU vs. UM-Dearborn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Michigan Dearborn (1105) is 56 points higher than at CMU (1049)
  • Incoming UM-Dearborn students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CMU (23)
  • Accepted freshman UM-Dearborn students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at CMU (3.47)
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than UM-Dearborn (58.6%)

CMU vs. UM-Dearborn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CMU or UM-Dearborn? 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 UM-Dearborn and CMU.

  • The graduation rate at CMU is higher than University of Michigan Dearborn (54% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Dearborn earn on average $8,300 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($52,800 vs. $44,500)
  • University of Michigan Dearborn students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • UM-Dearborn graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UM-Dearborn students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 46%)

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