IWU vs. CMU

Deciding between Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 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 Wesleyan University Marion
Central Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IWU Marion, IN
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • IWU Distant Town
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IWU 2,204
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IWU #239
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IWU Wesleyan
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • IWU Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IWU
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IWU $32,352
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • IWU $10,868
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • IWU $23,402
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IWU $21,405
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IWU 100%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IWU 3,761
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • IWU 3,345
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IWU 88.9%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • IWU 17%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IWU 1070
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • IWU 23
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IWU 3.61
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IWU A-
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IWU Moderate
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • IWU
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • IWU 19/28
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • IWU 960/1180
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IWU Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IWU
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IWU 12:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IWU
    • Business (56%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (3%)
    • Education (3%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IWU 70%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IWU $54,300
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IWU 55%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IWU $24,104
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IWU $249
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IWU 40%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • IWU 60%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IWU Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • IWU No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • IWU 73%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • IWU 1%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • IWU 19%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IWU 4%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • IWU 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IWU 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IWU 2%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • IWU 0%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IWU 1%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IWU 67%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IWU 32%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana Wesleyan University Marion in Marion, 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 IWU based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 2,204 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is located in Marion, IN (Distant Town setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 12:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

IWU vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IWU 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 IWU ($17,575 vs. $23,402).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion are 13.5% lower than at Central Michigan University ($10,868 vs. $12,564).
  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion is 119.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $17,592 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119.2% higher at IWU than at Central Michigan University (about $17,592 more per year; $32,352.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana Wesleyan University Marion than at Central Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Indiana Wesleyan University Marion students is 64.1% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($21,405 vs. $13,042).

IWU vs. CMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IWU 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 IWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 10 points higher than at IWU (1070).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 960/1180; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana Wesleyan University Marion 19/28; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IWU - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than IWU (88.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at IWU vs. 11.3% at CMU.

IWU vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IWU 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).

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Marion's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University Marion earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,300 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana Wesleyan University Marion graduates have a $2,896 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($24,104 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, IWU graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($249 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (55% 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.