CMU vs. WLC

Deciding between Central Michigan University and Wisconsin Lutheran College? 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
Wisconsin Lutheran College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CMU Mount Pleasant, MI
  • WLC Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • CMU Distant Town
  • WLC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CMU 14,488
  • WLC 1,027
  • Type
  • CMU Public 4 Year
  • WLC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CMU #782
  • WLC #397
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CMU -
  • WLC Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
  • Status
  • CMU Non-profit
  • WLC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CMU
  • WLC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • WLC $36,110
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CMU $14,760
  • WLC $36,110
  • Room & Board
  • CMU $12,564
  • WLC $12,250
  • Average Net Price
  • CMU $17,575
  • WLC $24,095
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CMU $13,042
  • WLC $24,624
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CMU 94%
  • WLC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CMU 21,969
  • WLC 1,575
  • Admitted
  • CMU 19,732
  • WLC 1,231
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CMU 89.8%
  • WLC 78.2%
  • Enrolled
  • CMU 11.3%
  • WLC 20.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CMU 1080
  • WLC 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • CMU 24
  • WLC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • CMU 3.47
  • WLC 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CMU B+
  • WLC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CMU Moderate
  • WLC Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • CMU
  • WLC
  • ACT Range
  • CMU 21/27
  • WLC 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • CMU 960/1200
  • WLC 970/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CMU Test optional
  • WLC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CMU
  • WLC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CMU 16:1
  • WLC 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CMU
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • WLC
    • Communication (19%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CMU 54%
  • WLC 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CMU $44,500
  • WLC $43,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CMU 54%
  • WLC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CMU $27,000
  • WLC $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CMU $279
  • WLC $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CMU 39%
  • WLC 49%
  • % Women
  • CMU 61%
  • WLC 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CMU Low
  • WLC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • CMU No
  • WLC No
  • % White
  • CMU 79%
  • WLC 83%
  • % Asian
  • CMU 1%
  • WLC 1%
  • % Black
  • CMU 8%
  • WLC 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • CMU 4%
  • WLC 5%
  • % Native American
  • CMU 1%
  • WLC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CMU 0%
  • WLC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CMU 3%
  • WLC 2%
  • % International
  • CMU 2%
  • WLC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CMU 3%
  • WLC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CMU 88%
  • WLC 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CMU 9%
  • WLC 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI with Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Michigan University is larger than WLC based on total student enrollment (14,488 students vs. 1,027 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI (Distant Town setting); Wisconsin Lutheran College is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Central Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Michigan University 16:1; Wisconsin Lutheran College 11:1.

CMU vs. WLC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMU or WLC? 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 WLC ($17,575 vs. $24,095).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wisconsin Lutheran College are 2.5% lower than at Central Michigan University ($12,250 vs. $12,564).
  • Wisconsin Lutheran College is 144.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMU (about $21,350 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 144.6% higher at WLC than at Central Michigan University (about $21,350 more per year; $36,110.00 vs. $14,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wisconsin Lutheran College than at Central Michigan University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wisconsin Lutheran College students is 88.8% larger than aid received by Central Michigan University students ($24,624 vs. $13,042).

CMU vs. WLC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wisconsin Lutheran College (1100) is 20 points higher than at CMU (1080).
  • Incoming WLC 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; Wisconsin Lutheran College 970/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Michigan University 21/27; Wisconsin Lutheran College 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMU - Test optional; WLC - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman WLC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at CMU (3.47).
  • CMU has a higher acceptance rate (89.8%) than WLC (78.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at CMU vs. 20.2% at WLC.

CMU vs. WLC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMU and WLC? 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).

  • Wisconsin Lutheran College's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Central Michigan University's (54%).
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than WLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,500 vs. $43,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than CMU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, WLC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More WLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.