Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI, USA

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability and Cost

Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$15,758
Calculate your net cost
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$10,805
$30k - $48k
$12,346
$48k - $75k
$15,720
$75k - $110k
$18,135
$110k+
$18,725
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$13,703
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$13,703
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$11,248
Books and Supplies
$1,000
Tuition Payment Plan
Yes
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
76%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
34%
Average Aid Per Year
$10,207
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
34%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$2,955
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$8,287
Students receiving state aid
6%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$1,169
Students receiving federal aid
73%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$2,955
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$53,158,040
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$22,359,129

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
79%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,330
Students receiving federal loans
77%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$6,533
Average Other Loans Per Year
$7,742
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$21,500
Loan Default Rate
5%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$258

What Students Are Saying

Although Central Michigan University isn't the cheapest, or most expensive school in Michigan, it is quite expensive. Overall though, I think going to Central is definitely worth it. Students get into sports events for free, as well as many events on campus. There are always free giveaway, free food, and things to do.
Samantha from White Cloud, MI
It's quite expensive but the amount of education you receive while attending Central Michigan University prepares you or anything in the world.
Shanique from Roseville, MI
The downfall of CMU is that the CMU Promise ended in 2007, and so the price of tuition keeps rising. You're still getting what you paid for, but it is beginning to get more and more costly.
Jessica from Midland, MI
Central is not the most expensive public college in Michigan, but it is up there. The tuition costs are not that big of a deal, and there are amenities included in the price such as getting into football games for free and having access to the Student Activity Center. The only part of the cost that might be a little excessive comes with the meal plan costs. The dining halls are only open until 7:00 or 7:30 on weekdays and 6:30 on weekends. This makes eating three meals a day difficult sometimes, and having two meals a day is only a couple hundred dollars cheaper. Other than that, the amount of money it costs to go to Central versus the skills and lessons you learn is definitely worth it.
Ashley
Because I go to class every day and make the most of my time, I believe I am getting the most bang for my buck! There are also all sorts of classes you can test out of at Central so you can save even more.
Haley from MT Pleasant, MI
Central absolutely delivers the most bang for the buck I have ever seen in a school. It is easy to meet many kinds of people and to stay in contact with them because of Central's reasonable size. There are so many pleasant surprises around campus. All students get in free to ALL athletic events (including home football games) with their student I.D. Access to the SAC, one of the nicest activity centers in all of Michigan, is free to all students and so is tutoring services and SafeRides, a service that takes you anywhere you want to go on campus from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The cafeterias are absolutely beautiful and offer a very large variety of great food everyday, always with multiple choices and the dorms are great. There are so many events and RSOs to get involved in and to meet new people through. Student employment is relatively easy to find as students work in the cafeteria, library, buildings, stores and restaurants located all around campus. There is always an event going on and Central keeps its students well informed through chalk on the sidewalk, flyers, emails, and ads. Such events include plays, athletic events, speakers, bands, and programs put on by Central. Most events are free, and for those that are not, they are almost never more than $5. Central is a school that actually cares about its students and allows them to attend their own sporting events and to use their own gym/ Student Activity Center without charging them.
Lauren from Chelsea, MI
If you have scholarships it is certainly worth the money. Tuition is relatively low and they are currently working on in-state tuition for out of state students which will make it even cheaper.
Caleb from Lowell, MI
The dorms are much better than the ones at MSU and U of M...and, you don't feel like a small fish in a big pond here. There are scholarships, grants, financial aid and on-campus (and off) jobs to help with college costs.
Lauren from Bloomfield Hills, MI
If you enjoy a small campus with a big name, you will love central michigan. All sport games are free to any student with your Student ID. Don't have a ride? No worries, Central Michigan offers a program called Safe Rides which will send you and one more student any where around campus with one simple call and its free.
Sierra from Redford, MI