Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan · Public · 89.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant scores ROI 51 (Below Average Value) - a mid-size public regional with 10,035 undergraduates. Average 6-year earnings land at $37,600, rising to a median $55,874 at 10 years. Completion at 58.7% means four in ten students who enroll do not graduate. Computer Science (59 grads, B grade), Management Information Systems (37 grads, B grade), and Electrical Engineering (11 grads, B grade) are the clear high-ROI programs. Kinesiology (189 graduates) and Psychology (215 graduates) are the largest programs by volume but carry D-grade ROI with debt ratios above 0.82. CMU's central Michigan location is a genuine challenge - Mount Pleasant is not adjacent to a major employer cluster, pushing graduates toward Detroit, Grand Rapids, or remote employment.
Central Michigan University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,760/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,760/yr |
| Average net price | $17,597/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $70,388 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,874 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,035 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $14,760/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $17,597/year, or roughly $70,388 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,185/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,403/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,600) and comes to 0.72, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,185 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,139 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,601 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,269 |
| $110,001+ | $21,403 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,185 per year - the lowest across all bands, reflecting Michigan merit and need-based aid stacking. Over four years that is roughly $48,740. At this price, even a C-grade ROI program can be justified if the student completes. The 58.7% completion rate remains the critical risk factor: a low-income student who leaves with debt and no degree faces the worst outcome the data can produce.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $12,139 - essentially identical to the lowest bracket. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $13,601, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $16,269. The cost slope is very gradual - CMU pricing stays relatively flat through the broad middle-income range, which is an access-oriented aid design.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $21,403 - still significantly below the $17,597 average net price on paper, reflecting merit scholarship stacking for higher-income families. Over four years that is roughly $85,612. At these costs, the 10.1-year payback period means CMU works financially for most majors over a long time horizon, but high-income families whose student enters Kinesiology or Fine Arts face D-F grade ROI that does not justify even public pricing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Central Michigan University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $53,422 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,771 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,113 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $49,588 | C |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $58,344 | C |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,881 | D |
| Marketing | $75,661 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $59,522 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $79,906 | B |
| Computer Science | $89,216 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is CMU's top-performing program with 59 graduates annually. Median 1-year earnings of $74,135 and 4-year earnings of $89,216 reflect the national software engineering salary floor and Michigan's growing tech sector centered in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids. The 0.364 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is clean for a public school. CMU Computer Science delivers genuine value: this program's debt ratio (0.364) is lower than the school's median (0.718).
Management Information Systems
MIS produces 37 graduates annually with median 1-year earnings of $68,088 and a standout 4-year figure of $95,721 - the highest long-term earnings on campus outside statistics. The 0.397 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is well-controlled. MIS bridges business process knowledge with technical skills, a combination that Michigan's automotive supply chain, insurance, and manufacturing sectors value for systems analyst and ERP roles.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 64 graduates annually - the largest high-yield business program at CMU. Median 1-year earnings of $60,023 and 4-year earnings of $79,906 reflect mid-level corporate finance, banking, and financial planning roles across Michigan. The 0.444 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $26,672 median debt is acceptable. CMU Finance students who use Detroit's financial sector and Michigan's corporate headquarter base (auto companies, insurance) outperform the statewide median for business generalists.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is CMU's largest high-enrollment business program at 188 graduates per year. The 0.522 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) with $28,000 median debt is borderline. The 188-graduate volume means this is a commodity degree in Michigan's job market - differentiation through specialization, certification, or targeted internships is essential for graduates to reach the 4-year earnings ceiling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Central Michigan University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 89.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 10,035 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,682 |
CMU admits 89.8% of applicants - near-open enrollment. ACT 21-27; SAT Math 470-590, Reading 490-610. The broad admission band reflects CMU's role as a regional access institution. The compressed ACT range (6 points) means admitted students span a wide preparation spectrum; the completion rate reflects that range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan University (this school) | 51 | $17,597 | $55,874 |
| Ferris State University | 68 | $8,624 | $54,735 |
| Fort Hays State University | 52 | $12,569 | $48,928 |
| Cleveland State University | 52 | $14,764 | $52,131 |
| East Texas A&M University | 51 | $11,841 | $50,296 |
| Eastern Michigan University | 42 | $15,407 | $51,793 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Central Michigan University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
CMU fits students with ACT 21-27 or SAT 470-610 who need Michigan public pricing and have a specific major in mind. With 31.4% Pell recipients, CMU serves a meaningful working-class population. The 58.7% completion rate is the clearest warning for undecided students. Students entering Computer Science, Engineering, MIS, or Finance have the best earnings trajectories. Students entering Kinesiology, Psychology, Drama, or Fine Arts at CMU face debt ratios above 1.0, meaning they graduate owing more than their annual earnings.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Central Michigan University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $17,597 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,874 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Central Michigan University: Common Questions
Is Central Michigan University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Central Michigan University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,597 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,874 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Central Michigan University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $17,597 a year, or roughly $70,388 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Central Michigan University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,874 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,074 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Central Michigan University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.1 years for Central Michigan University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Central Michigan University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $37,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Central Michigan University?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.