Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Central Michigan University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 48% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 63rd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MI wage index 0.90). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Central Michigan University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management Information Systems and Services | $68,088 | $95,721 | +15% | #31 of 166 | #26 | $26,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $71,457 | $91,542 | -9% | #226 of 258 | #176 | $28,500 |
| Computer Science | $74,135 | $89,216 | -17% | #249 of 349 | #224 | $26,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | — | $86,839 | -7% | #32 of 43 | #28 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $64,284 | $86,472 | +5% | #16 of 61 | #12 | $28,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,862 | $85,196 | -8% | #291 of 318 | #204 | $27,000 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $63,862 | $84,064 | +17% | #2 of 9 | #2 | $28,500 |
| Statistics | — | $81,853 | -11% | #32 of 50 | #26 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | $62,430 | $80,551 | +6% | #247 of 796 | #196 | $28,125 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $60,023 | $79,906 | -4% | #198 of 452 | #166 | $25,500 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $66,149 | $77,768 | -10% | #76 of 126 | #70 | $20,500 |
| Marketing | $55,296 | $75,661 | +9% | #113 of 516 | #83 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $53,605 | $74,113 | +9% | #256 of 1176 | #167 | $27,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $50,612 | $73,340 | +8% | #59 of 187 | #45 | $26,703 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $28,220 | $73,316 | +17% | #13 of 67 | #8 | $25,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $53,539 | $73,112 | -21% | #365 of 459 | #331 | $27,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,167 | $67,117 | +14% | #76 of 275 | #57 | $26,000 |
| Economics | $48,636 | $65,174 | -21% | #320 of 368 | #275 | $27,000 |
| Geography and Cartography | — | $62,999 | +9% | #38 of 117 | #24 | $26,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $23,752 | $62,082 | +5% | #63 of 215 | #44 | $23,250 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $35,802 | $61,331 | -8% | #75 of 118 | #58 | $26,750 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $40,346 | $59,522 | -6% | #112 of 178 | #99 | $27,000 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $49,103 | $58,344 | +12% | #5 of 24 | #3 | $26,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $32,850 | $57,771 | +6% | #166 of 610 | #130 | $27,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $29,203 | $57,513 | -4% | #19 of 42 | #15 | $26,125 |
| Biology | $29,792 | $57,438 | +0% | #437 of 841 | #325 | $27,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $35,235 | $57,438 | -5% | #96 of 138 | #71 | $31,000 |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | — | $57,108 | -8% | #28 of 39 | #26 | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $42,908 | $56,553 | -7% | #46 of 67 | #44 | $27,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $37,187 | $56,314 | -1% | #65 of 137 | #53 | $28,937 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,913 | $55,353 | -2% | #295 of 660 | #211 | $27,000 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $26,138 | $55,134 | -1% | #40 of 70 | #37 | $24,877 |
| Social Sciences | $37,408 | $54,888 | -3% | #18 of 35 | #11 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | — | $54,265 | -22% | #287 of 309 | #272 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | $36,917 | $54,254 | +5% | #132 of 299 | #108 | $27,500 |
| Psychology | $31,166 | $53,422 | +5% | #330 of 1027 | #183 | $27,000 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $40,333 | $53,353 | +2% | #19 of 50 | #19 | $28,125 |
| Social Work | $35,800 | $53,279 | +3% | #171 of 420 | #108 | $27,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $28,651 | $52,311 | -26% | #220 of 253 | #202 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,006 | $50,462 | -20% | #512 of 565 | #470 | $26,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $46,522 | $50,095 | -1% | #108 of 177 | #91 | $31,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,225 | $49,677 | +5% | #251 of 680 | #207 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $39,008 | $49,639 | -11% | #61 of 85 | #59 | $26,324 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $43,996 | $49,588 | -4% | #203 of 345 | #185 | $28,987 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $28,231 | $48,409 | -12% | #193 of 225 | #168 | $26,745 |
| Sociology | $28,785 | $48,389 | -8% | #329 of 462 | #254 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $28,430 | $48,290 | -12% | #219 of 265 | #180 | $28,644 |
| Journalism | $25,033 | $47,775 | -15% | #154 of 187 | #141 | $27,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $29,205 | $46,942 | -7% | #103 of 158 | #94 | $27,000 |
| Public Administration | $46,301 | — | — | — | — | $27,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Central Michigan University Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 48880 (4.2% cap, Saint Louis)
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🏆 Where Central Michigan University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $13,862 | $13,862 |
| Room | $6,062 | |
| Board | $6,116 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $31,058 | $31,058 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,672 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,638 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,182 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,215 |
| $110,001+ | $18,780 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Central Michigan University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Central Michigan University?
How much does it cost to attend Central Michigan University?
What is the graduation rate at Central Michigan University?
Is Central Michigan University a good school?
- Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
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🎓 Similar Colleges to Central Michigan University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology