Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Eastern Michigan University Michigan State GVSU WSU Oakland Saginaw Valley State University ISU Michigan Northern Illinois Michigan Tech Ferris State University UM-Dearborn| Central Michigan University | Western Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CMU | WMU | ||
| Location | Mount Pleasant, MI | Kalamazoo, MI | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 14,399 | 16,693 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #802 | #631 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmich.edu | wmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CMU | WMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $13,740 | $15,198 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $13,740 | $18,998 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,178 | $11,713 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,826 | $20,183 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,638 | $8,217 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 91% |
Admission |
CMU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,102 | 20,100 | ||
| Admitted | 16,474 | 17,020 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91% | 84.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.4% | 14.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.47 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1210 | 990/1220 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
CMU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
CMU | WMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,500 | $48,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,633 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $275 |
Diversity |
CMU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
CMU | WMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 88% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 21% | ||
Campus |
CMU | WMU | ||
| 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
- Western Michigan University is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (16,693 students vs. 14,399 students)
CMU vs. WMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CMU or WMU?
- Western Michigan University is 10.6% more expensive to attend than CMU for in-state tuition ($15,198.00 vs. $13,740.00)
- Out of state tuition is 38.3% higher at WMU than Central Michigan University ($18,998.00 vs. $13,740.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than WMU ($15,826 vs. $20,183)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 4% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($11,713 vs. $12,178)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University than Western Michigan University (95% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 29.5% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($10,638 vs. $8,217)
CMU vs. WMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CMU or WMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WMU or CMU .
- The average SAT score at Central Michigan University (1049) is 19 points higher than at WMU (1030)
- Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at WMU (22)
- Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CMU (3.47)
- CMU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than WMU (84.7%)
CMU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CMU or WMU? 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 WMU and CMU.
- The graduation rate at WMU is higher than Central Michigan University (56% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $4,400 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $44,500)
- Western Michigan University students graduate with a $367 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($26,633 vs. $27,000)
- WMU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($275 vs. $279)
- More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 54%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/