CMU vs. WSU

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Wayne 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
Wayne State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • WSU 23,803
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • WSU #551
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • WSU $15,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • WSU $32,037
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • WSU $14,252
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • WSU $14,416
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • WSU $12,953
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • WSU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • WSU 16,981
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • WSU 13,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • WSU 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • WSU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • WSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • WSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • WSU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • WSU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • WSU 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • WSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • WSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • WSU $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • WSU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • WSU $22,258
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • WSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • WSU 40%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • WSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • WSU High
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • WSU 57%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • WSU 8%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • WSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • WSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • WSU 3%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • WSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • WSU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • WSU 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • WSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with Wayne State University in Detroit, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wayne State University is larger than CMU based on total student enrollment (23,803 students vs. 14,488 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

CMU vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or WSU? 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 Wayne State University than CMU ($14,416 vs. $17,575).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 11.8% lower than at Wayne State University ($12,564 vs. $14,252).
  • Wayne State University is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $430 more per year; $15,190.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 117.1% higher at WSU than at Central Michigan University (about $17,277 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at Central Michigan University (98% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Wayne State University students ($13,042 vs. $12,953).

CMU vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wayne State University (1170) is 90 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming WSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at CMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 960/1200; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; Wayne State University 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at WSU (3.42).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than WSU (81.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 22.4% at WSU.

CMU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and WSU? 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 Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than CMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $44,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wayne State University graduates have a $4,742 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($22,258 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WSU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($230 vs. $279).
  • More CMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 38%)

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.