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CU Boulder Colorado State DU WMU Eastern Michigan University Michigan State Metropolitan State College of Denver UCCS GVSU WSU Saginaw Valley State University Michigan| University of Colorado Denver | Central Michigan University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
| Location | Denver, CO | Mount Pleasant, MI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 23,744 | 14,557 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #387 | #715 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ucdenver.edu | cmich.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,736 | $13,200 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,992 | $13,200 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,230 | $11,248 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,079 | $15,605 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,384 | $11,314 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 96% |
Admission |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,631 | 19,888 | ||
| Admitted | 11,658 | 15,701 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 78.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.6% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.47 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/27 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1030/1260 | 980/1220 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 54% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,200 | $44,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 61% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,190 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $279 |
Diversity |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 51% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 19% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 8% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 9% | ||
Campus |
CU Denver | CMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Colorado Denver is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (23,744 students vs. 14,557 students)
CU Denver vs. CMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CU Denver or CMU?
- Central Michigan University is 51.1% more expensive to attend than CU Denver for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $8,736.00)
- Out of state tuition is 96.9% higher at CU Denver than Central Michigan University ($25,992.00 vs. $13,200.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than CU Denver ($15,605 vs. $16,079)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 26.5% lower than costs at University of Colorado Denver ($11,248 vs. $14,230)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Central Michigan University than University of Colorado Denver (96% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 20.6% larger than aid received University of Colorado Denver ($11,314 vs. $9,384)
CU Denver vs. CMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CU Denver or CMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU or CU Denver .
- The average SAT score at University of Colorado Denver (1055) is 6 points higher than at CMU (1049)
- Incoming CU Denver students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at CMU (23)
- Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at CU Denver (3.46)
- CMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than CU Denver (74.6%)
CU Denver vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CU Denver or CMU? 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 and CU Denver.
- The graduation rate at CMU is higher than University of Colorado Denver (54% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from University of Colorado Denver earn on average $23,700 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($68,200 vs. $44,500)
- University of Colorado Denver students graduate with a $5,810 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($21,190 vs. $27,000)
- CU Denver graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($219 vs. $279)
- More CU Denver 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/