CMU vs. ETSU

Deciding between Central Michigan University and East Tennessee State 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
East Tennessee State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • ETSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • ETSU 13,728
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • ETSU #650
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • ETSU -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • ETSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • ETSU $10,472
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • ETSU $14,522
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • ETSU $10,554
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • ETSU $16,286
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • ETSU $10,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • ETSU 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • ETSU 10,050
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • ETSU 8,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • ETSU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • ETSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • ETSU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • ETSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • ETSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • ETSU
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • ETSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • ETSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • ETSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • ETSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • ETSU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • ETSU $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • ETSU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • ETSU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • ETSU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • ETSU 39%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • ETSU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • ETSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • ETSU No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • ETSU 82%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • ETSU 1%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • ETSU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • ETSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • ETSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • ETSU 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • ETSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than ETSU based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 13,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); East Tennessee State University is in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; East Tennessee State University 15:1.

CMU vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or ETSU? 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 East Tennessee State University than CMU ($16,286 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 16% lower than at Central Michigan University ($10,554 vs. $12,564).
  • Central Michigan University is 40.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $4,288 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $10,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at CMU than at East Tennessee State University (about $238 more per year; $14,760.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Michigan University than at East Tennessee State University (94% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 29.1% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($13,042 vs. $10,101).

CMU vs. ETSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMU or ETSU? 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 ETSU and CMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Tennessee State University (1090) is 10 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming CMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at ETSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; East Tennessee State University 980/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; East Tennessee State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; ETSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at ETSU (3.33).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than ETSU (86.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 24.7% at ETSU.

CMU vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and ETSU? 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 East Tennessee State University's (44%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than ETSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($20,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($211 vs. $279).
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 50%)

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.