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Mount Pleasant , MI
Central Michigan University (CMU) is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Founded in 1892, it has emerged as one of the largest universities in the state, with a student enrollment of over 22,000. CMU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, education, health professions, arts and sciences, and many others.
Recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, CMU boasts a faculty that is highly knowledgeable and skilled in their respective fields. The university prides itself on offering students a rigorous and engaging learning environment that prepares them for success in their careers. Additionally, CMU is well-regarded for its strong emphasis on research and innovation, with students and faculty collaborating on various projects that contribute to advancements in their fields.
Beyond academics, CMU offers a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations for students to get involved in. The university also boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, laboratories, and libraries, that provide students with access to valuable resources. With its beautiful campus and strong sense of community, CMU provides a welcoming and supportive environment for students to grow both academically and personally.
Central Michigan University is a public university located in Mount Pleasant, MI. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 89%. The freshman retention rate at Central Michigan University is 75.36% and the six-year graduation rate is 59%.
To find out more about what Central Michigan University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
10,219
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
59%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. Here are the most relevant information you need to know about admission at Central Michigan University.
According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 19,732 in 2025. Central Michigan University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
60.6% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 7.07% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 3.1% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 22.5% between 1,200 and 1,399, 45.1% between 1,000 and 1,199, 26.4% of the students between 800 and 999, 2.7% between 600 and 799, and 0.1% between 400 and 599. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 13.2, 41 between 24-29, 35.4 in the range between 18-23, 6.9 between 12-17, and 3.5 below 6.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 23 and the average GPA was 3.51. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 554 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 532.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Central Michigan University was 75.36% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 59%.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the best fit for you is not simple. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 14,515 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 9.01. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 10,219, 263 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 987 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 4,593 male and 6,537 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 147 Asian students and 820 Afro-American students in 2025. 578 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 387 as multirace. The school also had 6 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 93 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 95 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Central Michigan University estimated tuition costs.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $11,976. Tuition fees were $21,000 for students coming from a different state. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $21,000, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $450 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $21,000 | $450 | $21,450 |
| In-State | $11,976 | $450 | $12,426 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,290.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Central Michigan University amounted to $12,902 a year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $6,802 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $4,617.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 11,976 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,902 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,290 |
| Total Expense | $ 26,168 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support for students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Central Michigan University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,407 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $19,935 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
4,989 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 5,168. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $19,904,289, and state $10,941,854. The students of Central Michigan University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $35,271,456, and external in the amount of $1,496,323.
$7,124
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
836 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 283 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $19,904,289 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $15,958. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $11,748,670. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $636,661 USD.
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Central Michigan University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 912 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 466 men and 446 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Central Michigan University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Central Michigan University.
It has a campus size of 871 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 300 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 11 and female students 8.7. The most popular student organization is Muslim Student Organization, followed by OBU Fashion Show and International Student Organization. Other popular student organizations at this school are Student Government Association and Indian Student Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Central Michigan University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Central Michigan University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Central Michigan University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Central Michigan University.
All in all, campus life at Central Michigan University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Central Michigan University.
Career Counselling
At Central Michigan University, there is both group career counseling for full-time students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to full-time undergraduates only at this school.
FAQ
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Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Central Michigan University is 89%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Central Michigan University is 75.36%.
Contact Information
Central Michigan University
1200 S Franklin Street
Mount Pleasant , MI
48859
989 774-4000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.