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Northern Illinois Illinois WMU Eastern Michigan University Michigan State GVSU UIC WSU DePaul EIU Saginaw Valley State University IWU| Illinois State University | Central Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ISU | CMU | ||
| Location | Normal, IL | Mount Pleasant, MI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 20,989 | 14,399 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #501 | #802 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | illinoisstate.edu | cmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ISU | CMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,066 | $13,740 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,131 | $13,740 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,584 | $12,178 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,871 | $15,826 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,590 | $10,638 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 95% |
Admission |
ISU | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,884 | 18,102 | ||
| Admitted | 18,589 | 16,474 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.3% | 12.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.47 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 960/1210 | ||
| 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 |
ISU | CMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ISU | CMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $44,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 74% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $279 |
Diversity |
ISU | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 77% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
ISU | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 96% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 3% | 8% | ||
Campus |
ISU | CMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Illinois State University is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (20,989 students vs. 14,399 students)
ISU vs. CMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ISU or CMU?
- Central Michigan University is 13.9% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($13,740.00 vs. $12,066.00)
- Out of state tuition is 75.6% higher at ISU than Central Michigan University ($24,131.00 vs. $13,740.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than ISU ($15,826 vs. $20,871)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 5.1% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($11,584 vs. $12,178)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Central Michigan University (96% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 8.9% larger than aid received Central Michigan University ($11,590 vs. $10,638)
ISU vs. CMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ISU or CMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU or ISU .
- The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 41 points higher than at CMU (1049)
- Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CMU (23)
- 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 (91%) than ISU (89%)
ISU vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ISU or CMU? 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 CMU and ISU.
- The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Central Michigan University (71% vs. 54%)
- Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $4,500 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,500)
- Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
- ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans 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/