IU Northwest vs. CMU

Deciding between Indiana University Northwest 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.

Indiana University Northwest
Central Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Northwest Gary, IN
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • IU Northwest Small City
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IU Northwest 3,041
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • IU Northwest Public 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU Northwest #875
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU Northwest -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • IU Northwest Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU Northwest
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU Northwest $8,424
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU Northwest $22,811
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • IU Northwest $10,972
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • IU Northwest $5,745
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU Northwest $8,327
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU Northwest 76%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU Northwest 2,928
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • IU Northwest 2,149
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU Northwest 73.4%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • IU Northwest 23.5%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU Northwest 1050
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU Northwest 22
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU Northwest 3.14
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU Northwest B
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Northwest Easy
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU Northwest Low
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • IU Northwest 18/26
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • IU Northwest 910/1180
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Northwest Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU Northwest
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU Northwest 15:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU Northwest
    • Health Professions (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU Northwest 23%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU Northwest $39,500
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU Northwest 33%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU Northwest $25,030
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU Northwest $258
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU Northwest 27%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • IU Northwest 73%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Northwest High
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • IU Northwest No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • IU Northwest 55%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • IU Northwest 2%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • IU Northwest 18%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU Northwest 20%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU Northwest 3%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • IU Northwest 0%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU Northwest 1%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU Northwest 95%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU Northwest 4%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Northwest in Gary, 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 Northwest based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 3,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Northwest is located in Gary, IN (Small City setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Indiana University Northwest 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 Northwest 15:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

IU Northwest vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest 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 Northwest than CMU ($5,745 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest 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 Northwest (about $6,336 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $8,424.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.5% higher at IU Northwest 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 Northwest (94% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 56.6% larger than aid received by Indiana University Northwest students ($13,042 vs. $8,327).

IU Northwest vs. CMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 30 points higher than at IU Northwest (1050).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at IU Northwest).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 910/1180; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Northwest 18/26; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU Northwest - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at IU Northwest (3.14).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than IU Northwest (73.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at IU Northwest vs. 11.3% at CMU.

IU Northwest vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU Northwest 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 Northwest's (23%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than IU Northwest graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $39,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Northwest graduates have a $1,970 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($25,030 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IU Northwest graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 33%)

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.