ISU vs. CMU

Deciding between Illinois State University and Central 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.

Illinois State University
Central Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Normal, IL
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 21,546
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #502
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $16,144
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,210
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $11,754
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $21,369
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $12,974
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 96%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 21,573
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • ISU 19,017
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.2%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 22.5%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1100
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Moderate
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/27
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 990/1210
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU Apr 1, 2027
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 19:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (18%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 71%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $49,000
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,000
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $227
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 42%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • ISU 58%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • ISU 77%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 2%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • ISU 8%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 9%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • ISU 0%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 0%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 96%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 3%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Illinois State University is larger than CMU based on total student enrollment (21,546 students vs. 14,488 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois State University is located in Normal, IL (Small City setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Illinois State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois State University 19:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

ISU vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or CMU? 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 Central Michigan University than ISU ($17,575 vs. $21,369).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 6.4% lower than at Central Michigan University ($11,754 vs. $12,564).
  • Illinois State University is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $1,384 more per year; $16,144.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 91.1% higher at ISU than at Central Michigan University (about $13,450 more per year; $28,210.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois State University than at Central Michigan University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Illinois State University students ($13,042 vs. $12,974).

ISU vs. CMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois State University (1100) is 20 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming ISU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at CMU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 990/1210; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois State University 21/27; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ISU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at ISU (3.41).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than ISU (88.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at ISU vs. 11.3% at CMU.

ISU vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and CMU? 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).

  • Illinois State University's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.