ISU vs. CMU

Should I go to Illinois State University or Central Michigan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ISU or CMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Illinois State University vs. Central Michigan University comparison
Illinois State University Central Michigan University College 3 College 4
Illinois State University Central Michigan University
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Overview

ISU CMU
Location Normal, IL Mount Pleasant, MI
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 20,683 14,557
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #493 #715
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website illinoisstate.edu cmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ISU CMU
Tuition (In State) $11,840 $13,200
Tuition (Out of State) $23,681 $13,200
Room & Board $10,602 $11,248
Avg Net Price $20,551 $15,605
Avg Grant Aid $11,619 $11,314
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 96%

Admission

ISU CMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,596 19,888
Admitted 16,899 15,701
Acceptance Rate 86.2% 78.9%
Enrolled % 23.6% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.47
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27 21/27
SAT Range 1000/1210 980/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2024

Academics

ISU CMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

ISU CMU
Graduation Rate 71% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $44,500
Making Student Loan Payments 74% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $279

Diversity

ISU CMU
% Men 42% 40%
% Women 58% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 79%
% Black 8% 8%
% Hispanic 9% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

ISU CMU
% In-State 96% 90%
% Out-of-State 3% 9%

Campus

ISU CMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois State University is larger than than CMU based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 14,557 students)

ISU vs. CMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or CMU?

  • Central Michigan University is 11.5% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 79.4% higher at ISU than Central Michigan University ($23,681.00 vs. $13,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than ISU ($15,605 vs. $20,551)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 6.1% lower than costs at Central Michigan University ($10,602 vs. $11,248)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois State University than Central Michigan University (97% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois State University students is 2.7% larger than aid received Central Michigan University ($11,619 vs. $11,314)

ISU vs. CMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or CMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU or ISU .

  • The average SAT score at Illinois State University (1090) is 41 points higher than at CMU (1049)
  • Incoming ISU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CMU (23)
  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at ISU (3.41)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than CMU (78.9%)

ISU vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ISU or CMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CMU and ISU.

  • The graduation rate at ISU is higher than Central Michigan University (71% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Illinois State University earn on average $4,500 more per year than CMU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,500)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/