Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Central Michigan University is a public national university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Central Michigan University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Central Michigan University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $49,644 10 years after enrolling, 21st in Michigan, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Central Michigan University bachelor students earn 3% more than the national average. Central Michigan University is ranked 12th in Michigan.
Central Michigan University’s median net annual cost of $16,007 and average years to graduate of 4.9 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Central Michigan University sorted by number of graduates - Health & Fitness, Psychology, Business Administration, Education (subject specific), Community Org & Advocacy, Human Development & Family - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,007
Average years to graduate
4.9
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #87
Economic score: 1.43
Marketing
Rank: #30
Economic score: 1.76
Accounting
Rank: #169
Economic score: 2.17
Finance
Rank: #116
Economic score: 2.37
Entrepreneurship
Rank: #12
Economic score: 3.05
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #91
Economic score: 3.46
Hospitality Mgmt.
Rank: #51
Economic score: 3.8
Advertising & PR
Rank: #39
Economic score: 3.82
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #68
Economic score: 3.86
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #28
Economic score: 4.72
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Central Michigan University - Business Administration, HR Management, Health Administrative Services, Public Administration, Educ. Administration, Curriculum and Instruction - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Food & Nutrition
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.27
Engineering Fields
Rank: #10
Economic score: 0.27
Information Systems Mgmt.
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 0.4
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #70
Economic score: 0.49
International Business
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.52
Physiology & Pathology
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.8
Health & Fitness
Rank: #120
Economic score: 0.85
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: #64
Economic score: 0.91
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #182
Economic score: 0.98
Student Counseling
Rank: #189
Economic score: 1.06
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.9 years. 64% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Central Michigan University is 3% higher than the state average, and 4% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Central Michigan University, Pell Grant recipients represent 33% of the measured graduating class, 2% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Central Michigan University graduates within 5 years.
Central Michigan University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Central Michigan University’s economic mobility score of 21.46 is calculated by adjusting the 2.73 economic score of lower-income students by the 33% pell grant recipients within the student body. Central Michigan University’s EMS of 21.46 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Central Michigan University pays $16,007 a year, $10,409 less than the $26,416 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,007
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Central Michigan University, 94% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,007 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 79% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,019. This is 25% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,874
Pell grants
$4,663
State grants
$1,066
Institutional grants
$8,191
Central Michigan University offers 16 online bachelor programs, 2 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Central Michigan University offers 30 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
46
Hybrid programs
44
Percentage of programs online
23%
Central Michigan University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 77% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 18,517 applicants, of which 14,273 were admitted and 1,910 enrolled. Central Michigan University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
88%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
60%
59%
In-state
91%
68%
1st generation
29%
35%
White
75%
52%
Black
11%
14%
Hispanic
5%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
6%
12%