What is the acceptance rate at Central Michigan University?

Central Michigan University's acceptance rate is approximately 90% (Mount Pleasant, MI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Central Michigan University?

Admitted students at Central Michigan University typically score 960–1200 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Central Michigan University cost?

At Central Michigan University, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,597 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Central Michigan University?

Central Michigan University enrolls approximately 10,035 undergraduate students.

Where is Central Michigan University located?

Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI.

Central Michigan University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MIpubliccmich.edu

Acceptance

90%

SAT 25–75

960–1200

Avg net price

$17,597

Earnings (10 yr)

$55,874

Graduation rate

59%

Admit rate has ranged 69%–91% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Central Michigan University is a large, public university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, that defines itself as an 'opportunity university' — a place of broad access and practical outcomes. With an acceptance rate hovering around 90%, CMU is a classic 'safety school' for many Michiganders, offering a sprawling catalog of over 200 undergraduate majors and a quintessential, self-contained college-town experience. Its identity is less about cutthroat selectivity and more about providing a direct, supportive pathway to a degree and a career, particularly in fields like business, education, and health professions.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 10,035
In-state tuition: $14,760
Out-of-state tuition: $14,760
On-Campus Housing: 41%
Demonstrated Interest: Considered (Special Talents)
Student-Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Median Earnings (10yr): $55,874
Classes Under 20 Students: 42.6%
Four-Year Graduation Rate: 40%

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $55,874
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 3.2×
Median debt at graduation: $27,000
Graduation rate: 59%
First-year retention: 75%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 56%
Pell (lower-income) share: 31%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients): 29%

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$74,367
Mechanical Engineering$74,200
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$68,499
Computer Science$66,105
Management Information Systems and Services$63,799
Computer and Information Sciences, General

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 15
Per 1,000 students: 1.05

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 91
Summer high: 82°F
Winter low: 20°F
Annual rain: 34.2"
Annual snow: 34.9"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Low

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 256
Scholarly works: 19,509

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 1.0%
Bottom → top quintile: 24%
From bottom quintile: 4%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Central Michigan University?: Central Michigan University's acceptance rate is approximately 90% (Mount Pleasant, MI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Central Michigan University?: Admitted students at Central Michigan University typically score 960–1200 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Central Michigan University cost?: At Central Michigan University, the average net price (after aid) is about $17,597 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Central Michigan University?: Central Michigan University enrolls approximately 10,035 undergraduate students.
Where is Central Michigan University located?: Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, MI.

Admissions

Central Michigan University operates with an open-armed admissions philosophy, positioning itself as a primary destination for students across Michigan and the Midwest seeking a traditional four-year degree. The process is straightforward and minimally stressful for most applicants.

High Acceptance Rate: The university admits the vast majority of those who apply, with sources consistently reporting between 89.8% and 91% [[7], [8], [9], [12]]. We use the canonical figure of 90%.
Academic Profile of Admitted Students: The middle 50% of admitted first-year students typically present SAT scores between 960 and 1200 (the canonical range) or ACT scores between 21 and 27 [[8], [11], [12]]. Academically, a strong plurality—42%—report a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher [[8]].
Application Considerations: While CMU does not offer a binding Early Decision plan for undergraduate admissions [[40]], it does give 'special consideration' to students with 'demonstrated talent/abilities in areas of interest to the institution (e.g., sports, the arts, languages, etc.)' [[42], [44]]. This suggests that standout extracurricular achievements, particularly those that could enrich campus life, can positively influence an application.
No Medical School Confusion: It's critical to distinguish undergraduate admissions from the highly selective process of CMU's College of Medicine. The medical school's Early Decision Program is a separate, competitive pathway requiring a minimum 3.5 GPA and 503 MCAT score [[37]], and its entering class profiles show thousands of applicants for just over 100 seats [[10]].