Central Methodist University

Central Methodist University logo
#3541 / #925
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#992
Most Desirable School
Private university in Missouri, United States

Central Methodist University at a Glance

U.S. influence rank
#925
Acceptance rate (fall 2024)
57%
Tuition and fees (2025–26)
$29,460
Graduation rate
49%
Undergraduates (fall 2024)
1,040

Reviewed by , Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error

Central Methodist University Featured Rankings

About Central Methodist University

According to Wikipedia, Central Methodist University is a private university in Fayette, Missouri. CMU is accredited to offer master's, bachelors, and associate degrees. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Central Methodist University's Online Degrees

BS/BA in Communication
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BA in Accounting
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Criminal Justice
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS in Child Development
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS in Education
Degree Concentrations
  • Elementary Education
  • Secondary Education
  • Special Education
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
AS in Business
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Business
Degree Concentrations
  • Management
  • Marketing and Advertising
  • Business Administration
  • Banking and Finance
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Agribusiness
  • International Business
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
AA in English
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Format: Fully online
BA in English
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Computer Science
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS in Educational Studies
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
AA in Psychology
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Psychology
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS in Nursing
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
MS in Nursing
  • Required Credits: 42
  • Format: Fully online
AA/AAS in Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
AA in Mathematics
  • Required Credits: 60
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Mathematics
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
MS in Mathematics
  • Required Credits: 32
  • Format: Fully online
BS/BA in Sociology
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online
BS in Sports Management
  • Required Credits: 120
  • Format: Fully online

Central Methodist University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceRetention RateGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
1,14957%62%49%100220

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.

How Much Does Central Methodist University Cost To Attend?

Tuition and fees (in-state)
$29,460
Average Net Price by Family Income (2024–25)
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$20,639
30K - 48K$21,402
48K - 75K$22,579
75K - 110K$21,381
110K+$27,662

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.

How Much Do Central Methodist University Graduates Make?

Ten years after starting college, former Central Methodist University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $53,620 a year, and 93% of those not still in school are working.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.

Central Methodist University's Demographics

Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.

Student BodyUnder-Grads
1,0671,067

Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.

Where is Central Methodist University?

Central Methodist University is located at 411 Central Methodist Square, Fayette, MO 65248-1198.

How Safe is Central Methodist University?

No violent or property offenses were reported on Central Methodist University’s campus in 2024. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.

Relative to its enrollment, Central Methodist University has a violent crime rate of less than 0.01% and a property crime rate of less than 0.01%. Fayette has a violent crime rate of 0.36% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 0.18%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.

What Is Central Methodist University Known For?

Central Methodist University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:

Central Methodist University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Each rank compares how much Central Methodist University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence

Religious Studies
#1786
World Rank
#1811
Historical Rank
#412
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #412 in the U.S. and #1786 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.

religious-studies-hub Degrees
Criminal Justice
#2022
World Rank
#2026
Historical Rank
#1059
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1059 in the U.S. and #2022 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.

criminal-justice Degrees
Chemistry
#4402
World Rank
#4409
Historical Rank
#1059
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1059 in the U.S. and #4402 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.

chemistry Degrees
Political Science
#5029
World Rank
#5038
Historical Rank
#1167
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1167 in the U.S. and #5029 worldwide for influence in Political Science.

political-science Degrees
Nursing
#3114
World Rank
#3115
Historical Rank
#1208
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1208 in the U.S. and #3114 worldwide for influence in Nursing.

nursing Degrees
Philosophy
#4029
World Rank
#4067
Historical Rank
#1214
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1214 in the U.S. and #4029 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.

philosophy Degrees
Literature
#3866
World Rank
#3902
Historical Rank
#1271
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1271 in the U.S. and #3866 worldwide for influence in Literature.

literature Degrees
History
#4785
World Rank
#4794
Historical Rank
#1492
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1492 in the U.S. and #4785 worldwide for influence in History.

history Degrees
Biology
#6807
World Rank
#6825
Historical Rank
#1672
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1672 in the U.S. and #6807 worldwide for influence in Biology.

biology Degrees
Physics
#6278
World Rank
#6295
Historical Rank
#1728
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1728 in the U.S. and #6278 worldwide for influence in Physics.

physics Degrees
Mathematics
#6647
World Rank
#6672
Historical Rank
#1784
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1784 in the U.S. and #6647 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.

math Degrees
Medical
#6433
World Rank
#6434
Historical Rank
#1878
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #1878 in the U.S. and #6433 worldwide for influence in Medical.

medicine Degrees
Education
#7642
World Rank
#7644
Historical Rank
#2019
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #2019 in the U.S. and #7642 worldwide for influence in Education.

education Degrees
Communications
#7847
World Rank
#7835
Historical Rank
#2108
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #2108 in the U.S. and #7847 worldwide for influence in Communications.

communications Degrees
Psychology
#6336
World Rank
#6345
Historical Rank
#2358
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #2358 in the U.S. and #6336 worldwide for influence in Psychology.

psychology Degrees
Computer Science
#9369
World Rank
#9375
Historical Rank
#2450
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #2450 in the U.S. and #9369 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.

computer-science Degrees
Business
#9334
World Rank
#9335
Historical Rank
#2618
USA Rank

Central Methodist University ranks #2618 in the U.S. and #9334 worldwide for influence in Business.

business Degrees

Who Are Central Methodist University's Most Influential Alumni?

Central Methodist University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Economics, Religious Studies, and Criminal Justice. Here are some of Central Methodist University's most famous alumni:

Huston Smith
Huston Smith
A Religious studies scholar .
C. Fred Bergsten
C. Fred Bergsten
An American economist.
Abel Muzorewa
Abel Muzorewa
A Rhodesian Prime Minister.
Douglas A. Foster
Douglas A. Foster
An American historian.
Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson
An American mixed martial arts fighter.
Jack B. Kubisch
An American diplomat.
Claude T. Smith
An American conductor and composer .
Bill Chott
An Actor, writer, comedian.
Edward H. Lingo
An American logger.
Danielle Moore
An American politician.
Joseph C. Hendrix
An American politician .
Mike Lair
An American politician.