VCM vs. CMU

Deciding between VanderCook College of Music 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.

Central Michigan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCM Chicago, IL
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • Setting
  • VCM Large City
  • CMU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • VCM 323
  • CMU 14,488
  • Type
  • VCM Private 4 Year
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCM
  • CMU #782
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCM -
  • CMU -
  • Status
  • VCM Non-profit
  • CMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCM
  • CMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • CMU $14,760
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCM $30,910
  • CMU $14,760
  • Room & Board
  • VCM $14,008
  • CMU $12,564
  • Average Net Price
  • VCM $21,306
  • CMU $17,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCM $23,317
  • CMU $13,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCM 100%
  • CMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCM 38
  • CMU 21,969
  • Admitted
  • VCM 34
  • CMU 19,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCM 89.5%
  • CMU 89.8%
  • Enrolled
  • VCM 44.1%
  • CMU 11.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCM 1030
  • CMU 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCM 17
  • CMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCM 3.1
  • CMU 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCM B
  • CMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCM Extremely Easy
  • CMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCM
  • CMU
  • ACT Range
  • VCM 15/20
  • CMU 21/27
  • SAT Range
  • VCM 890/1160
  • CMU 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCM Test optional
  • CMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCM Apr 1, 2027
  • CMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCM 5:1
  • CMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCM
    • Education (100%)
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCM 45%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCM N/A
  • CMU $44,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCM 66%
  • CMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCM $27,000
  • CMU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCM $279
  • CMU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCM 47%
  • CMU 39%
  • % Women
  • VCM 53%
  • CMU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCM High
  • CMU Low
  • HBCU
  • VCM No
  • CMU No
  • % White
  • VCM 62%
  • CMU 79%
  • % Asian
  • VCM 2%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Black
  • VCM 8%
  • CMU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCM 21%
  • CMU 4%
  • % Native American
  • VCM 0%
  • CMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCM 0%
  • CMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCM 4%
  • CMU 3%
  • % International
  • VCM 2%
  • CMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCM 2%
  • CMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCM 73%
  • CMU 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCM 27%
  • CMU 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, 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 VCM based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 323 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • VanderCook College of Music is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Central Michigan University is in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting).
  • VanderCook College of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: VanderCook College of Music 5:1; Central Michigan University 16:1.

VCM vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM 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 VCM ($17,575 vs. $21,306).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 10.3% lower than at VanderCook College of Music ($12,564 vs. $14,008).
  • VanderCook College of Music is 109.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $16,150 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 109.4% higher at VCM than at Central Michigan University (about $16,150 more per year; $30,910.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at VanderCook College of Music than at Central Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by VanderCook College of Music students is 78.8% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($23,317 vs. $13,042).

VCM vs. CMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM 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 VCM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Michigan University (1080) is 50 points higher than at VCM (1030).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 17 at VCM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 890/1160; Central Michigan University 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: VanderCook College of Music 15/20; Central Michigan University 21/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCM - Test optional; CMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCM Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at VCM (3.1).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than VCM (89.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 44.1% at VCM vs. 11.3% at CMU.

VCM vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCM 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 VanderCook College of Music's (45%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Michigan University and VCM graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Central Michigan University and VCM graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.