SIUE vs. CMU

Deciding between Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 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.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Central Michigan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SIUE Edwardsville, IL
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • SIUE Large Suburban
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SIUE 11,893
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • SIUE Public 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SIUE #516
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SIUE -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • SIUE Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SIUE
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SIUE $12,922
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SIUE $12,922
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • SIUE $14,490
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • SIUE $17,115
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SIUE $11,602
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SIUE 91%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SIUE 10,150
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • SIUE 9,896
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SIUE 97.5%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SIUE 15.7%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SIUE 1070
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • SIUE 23
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • SIUE 3.54
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SIUE A-
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SIUE Moderate
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • SIUE
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • SIUE 20/27
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • SIUE 950/1190
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SIUE Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SIUE May 1, 2027
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SIUE 15:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SIUE
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SIUE 52%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SIUE $47,000
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SIUE 61%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SIUE $21,430
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SIUE $221
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SIUE 42%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • SIUE 58%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SIUE Low
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • SIUE No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • SIUE 73%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • SIUE 2%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • SIUE 15%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • SIUE 4%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • SIUE 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SIUE 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SIUE 3%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • SIUE 1%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SIUE 1%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SIUE 75%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SIUE 16%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Edwardsville, IL 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 SIUE based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 11,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, IL (Large Suburban setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 15:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

SIUE vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SIUE 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville than CMU ($17,115 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 13.3% lower than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ($12,564 vs. $14,490).
  • Central Michigan University is 14.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SIUE (about $1,838 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at CMU than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (about $1,838 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $12,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University than at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (94% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students ($13,042 vs. $11,602).

SIUE vs. CMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SIUE 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 SIUE.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 10 points higher than at SIUE (1070).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at SIUE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 950/1190; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 20/27; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SIUE - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SIUE May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SIUE students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • SIUE has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than CMU (89.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at SIUE vs. 11.3% at CMU.

SIUE vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SIUE 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's (52%).
  • Graduates from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates have a $5,570 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($21,430 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SIUE graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($221 vs. $279).
  • More SIUE graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (61% 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.