CMU vs. WMU

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Central Michigan University
Western Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • WMU Kalamazoo, MI
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • WMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • WMU 16,744
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • WMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • WMU #643
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • WMU -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • WMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • WMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • WMU $15,252
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • WMU $19,034
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • WMU $12,174
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • WMU $17,331
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • WMU $11,048
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • WMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • WMU 21,701
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • WMU 18,359
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • WMU 84.6%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • WMU 13.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • WMU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • WMU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • WMU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • WMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • WMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • WMU
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • WMU 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • WMU 990/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • WMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • WMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • WMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • WMU
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Engineering (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • WMU 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • WMU $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • WMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • WMU $26,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • WMU $275

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • WMU 46%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • WMU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • WMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • WMU No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • WMU 72%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • WMU 2%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • WMU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • WMU 5%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • WMU 3%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • WMU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • WMU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • WMU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • WMU 21%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CMU Yes
  • WMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CMU No
  • WMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • CMU Yes
  • WMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CMU Yes
  • WMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CMU No
  • WMU Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Western Michigan University is larger than CMU based on total student enrollment (16,744 students vs. 14,488 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Western Michigan University is in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Western Michigan University 16:1.

CMU vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or WMU? 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 Western Michigan University than CMU ($17,331 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 3.1% lower than at Central Michigan University ($12,174 vs. $12,564).
  • Western Michigan University is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $492 more per year; $15,252.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29% higher at WMU than at Central Michigan University (about $4,274 more per year; $19,034.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University as at Western Michigan University (94% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 18% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($13,042 vs. $11,048).

CMU vs. WMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Michigan University (1110) is 30 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at WMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Western Michigan University 990/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; Western Michigan University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; WMU - Test-free.
  • 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 (89.8%) than WMU (84.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 13.5% at WMU.

CMU vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and WMU? 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).

  • Western Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,900 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Michigan University graduates have a $367 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($26,633 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WMU graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.