McPherson College vs. CMU - CLAS

Should I go to McPherson College or Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McPherson College or CMU - CLAS is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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McPherson College vs. Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences comparison
McPherson College Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences College 3 College 4
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Overview

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
Location McPherson, KS Fayette, MO
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 822 1,080
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu centralmethodist.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
Tuition (In State) $32,494 $26,360
Tuition (Out of State) $32,494 $26,360
Room & Board $9,918 $8,910
Avg Net Price $25,065 $24,828
Avg Grant Aid $21,916 $18,044
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,445 1,166
Admitted 952 1,141
Acceptance Rate 65.9% 97.9%
Enrolled % 26.3% 25.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 18/23
SAT Range 908/1120 930/1090
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 Aug 1, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)

Outcomes

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
Graduation Rate 46% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $38,600
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $16,875
Median Loan Payment $268 $174

Diversity

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
% Men 67% 48%
% Women 33% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 78%
% Black 10% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
% In-State 31% 59%
% Out-of-State 62% 27%

Campus

McPherson College CMU - CLAS
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (1,080 students vs. 822 students)

McPherson College vs. CMU - CLAS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or CMU - CLAS?

  • McPherson College is 23.3% more expensive to attend than CMU - CLAS for in-state tuition ($32,494.00 vs. $26,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.3% higher at McPherson College than Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($32,494.00 vs. $26,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences than McPherson College ($24,828 vs. $25,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are 11.3% lower than costs at McPherson College ($8,910 vs. $9,918)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College as Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 21.5% larger than aid received Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences ($21,916 vs. $18,044)

McPherson College vs. CMU - CLAS Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McPherson College or CMU - CLAS? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU - CLAS or McPherson College .

  • The average SAT score at Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (1043) is 103 points higher than at McPherson College (940)
  • Incoming CMU - CLAS students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at McPherson College (20)
  • Accepted freshman CMU - CLAS students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • CMU - CLAS has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than McPherson College (65.9%)

McPherson College vs. CMU - CLAS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or CMU - CLAS? 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 - CLAS and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (46% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $5,600 more per year than CMU - CLAS graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $38,600)
  • Central Methodist University College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students graduate with a $9,125 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($16,875 vs. $26,000)
  • CMU - CLAS graduates are paying $94 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($174 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU - CLAS students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/