IU East vs. CMU

Deciding between Indiana University East 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.

Central Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU East Richmond, IN
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • IU East Rural Fringe
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU East 3,203
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • IU East Public 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU East #919
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU East -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • IU East Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU East
  • CMU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU East $8,424
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU East $22,811
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • IU East $10,972
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • IU East $8,718
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU East $8,096
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU East 83%
  • CMU 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU East 2,035
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • IU East 1,368
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU East 67.2%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • IU East 29.2%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU East 1070
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU East 21
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU East 3.41
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU East B+
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU East Very Easy
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU East Low
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • IU East 19/24
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • IU East 960/1170
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU East Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU East Aug 18, 2027
  • CMU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU East 15:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU East
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU East 19%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU East $32,900
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU East 40%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU East $20,500
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU East $211
  • CMU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU East 34%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • IU East 66%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU East Very Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • IU East No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • IU East 87%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • IU East 1%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • IU East 4%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU East 3%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU East 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU East 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU East 3%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • IU East 1%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU East 2%
  • CMU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU East 76%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU East 22%
  • CMU 9%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Central Michigan University is larger than IU East based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 3,203 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University East is located in Richmond, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Indiana University East is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University East 15:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

IU East vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU East 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 Indiana University East than CMU ($8,718 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University East are 12.7% lower than at Central Michigan University ($10,972 vs. $12,564).
  • Central Michigan University is 75.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU East (about $6,336 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.5% higher at IU East than at Central Michigan University (about $8,051 more per year; $22,811.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University than at Indiana University East (94% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 61.1% larger than aid received by Indiana University East students ($13,042 vs. $8,096).

IU East vs. CMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU East 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 IU East.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 10 points higher than at IU East (1070).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at IU East).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University East 960/1170; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University East 19/24; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU East - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IU East Aug 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at IU East (3.41).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than IU East (67.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.2% at IU East vs. 11.3% at CMU.

IU East vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU East 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).

  • Central Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Indiana University East's (19%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than IU East graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University East graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU East graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU East students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 40%)

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.