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Michigan State UM-Dearborn Oakland WMU Eastern Michigan University GVSU Detroit Mercy- UDM- U of D- University of Detroit Michigan Saginaw Valley State University Cleveland State Michigan Tech UM-Flint| Central Michigan University | Wayne State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CMU | WSU | ||
| Location | Mount Pleasant, MI | Detroit, MI | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,557 | 23,630 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #715 | #582 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmich.edu | wayne.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CMU | WSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $13,200 | $12,933 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $13,200 | $29,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,248 | $11,321 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,605 | $15,347 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,314 | $10,605 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 96% |
Admission |
CMU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,888 | 14,002 | ||
| Admitted | 15,701 | 10,547 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.9% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 24.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.47 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1220 | 1040/1260 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
CMU | WSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CMU | WSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 26% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,500 | $51,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,258 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $230 |
Diversity |
CMU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
CMU | WSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 3% | ||
Campus |
CMU | WSU | ||
| 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
- Wayne State University is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (23,630 students vs. 14,557 students)
CMU vs. WSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CMU or WSU?
- Central Michigan University is 2.1% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $12,933.00)
- Out of state tuition is 124.4% higher at WSU than Central Michigan University ($29,622.00 vs. $13,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than CMU ($15,347 vs. $15,605)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 0.6% lower than costs at Wayne State University ($11,248 vs. $11,321)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University as Wayne State University (96% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 6.7% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($11,314 vs. $10,605)
CMU vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CMU or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or CMU .
- The average SAT score at Wayne State University (1070) is 21 points higher than at CMU (1049)
- Incoming CMU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at WSU (23)
- Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at WSU (3.42)
- CMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than WSU (75.3%)
CMU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CMU or WSU? 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 WSU and CMU.
- The graduation rate at CMU is higher than Wayne State University (54% vs. 26%)
- Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $6,500 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $44,500)
- Wayne State University students graduate with a $4,742 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $27,000)
- WSU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($230 vs. $279)
- More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/