Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, 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 Michigan University Featured Rankings
- #3 Best Online MBA in Human Resources
- #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan 2026
- #8 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2026
- #10 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2026
- #10 Best Online MBAs Michigan
- #10 Best Grad Schools in Michigan 2026
- #11 Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership
- #11 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorate Programs
- #11 Michigan's Best Online Master's Degrees
- #11 Online Master’s in Project Management
- #11 Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorate Programs
- #13 Best Colleges in Michigan
- #19 Online Master’s in Human Resources
- #40 Non-GMAT Online MBAs
About Central Michigan University
According to Wikipedia, Central Michigan University is a public research university in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It was established in 1892 as the Central Michigan Normal School and Business Institute as a private normal school. After the Michigan State Board of Education took over governance of the school it became a state institution and was renamed Central State Normal School in 1895. The institution became a full university and gained its current name Central Michigan University in 1959 under the university's 6th president Judson W. Foust.
Central Michigan University's Online Degrees
Graduate Certificate in Acquisitions Administration
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in General Administration
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Administration
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in International Administration
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Systems
- Required Credits: 16
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Administrative Essentials
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Philanthropy And Nonprofit Organizations
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Recreation And Park Administration
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
MSA in Acquisitions Administration
- Required Credits: 36
- Format: Fully online
MS in Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Acquisitions Administration
- Engineering Management
- General Administration
- Health Services Administration
- Human Resource Administration
- Information Resource Management
- Integrated Homeland Security
- International Administration
- Leadership
- Philanthropy & Nonprofit Organizations
- Project Management
- Public Administration
- Research Administration
- Recreation And Park Administration
- Training And Development
- Human Resource Administration
- Information Resource Management
- Philanthropy & Nonprofit Organizations
- Project Management
- Research Administration
- Training And Development
- Required Credits: 36
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Information Resource Management
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
MS in Information Systems Program
- Required Credits: 36
- Completion Time: 2 years
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Integrated Homeland Security
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in College Teaching
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Training And Development
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
MA in Education
Degree Concentrations
- Training And Development
- Curriculum And Instruction
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
MA in Learning, Design And Technology
- Required Credits: 30
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Leadership
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Professional Development In Public Administration
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Research Administration
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Health Services Administration
- Required Credits: 15
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Health Systems Leadership
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in International Health
- Required Credits: 15-18
- Format: Fully online
MS in Nutrition And Dietetics
- Required Credits: 31-37
- Format: Fully online
Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management
- Required Credits: 18
- Format: Fully online
Central Michigan University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18,102 | 90% | 75% | 59% | 1080 | 24 |
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 Michigan University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $15,420 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $12,792 |
| 30K - 48K | $12,229 |
| 48K - 75K | $13,598 |
| 75K - 110K | $16,645 |
| 110K+ | $22,913 |
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 Michigan University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Central Michigan University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $59,879 a year, and 94% 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 Michigan University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 16,725 | 11,187 | 5,538 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Central Michigan University?
Central Michigan University is located at 106 Warriner Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859.
How Safe is Central Michigan University?
Central Michigan University reported 1.2 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most large partly residential campuses. 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 Michigan University has a violent crime rate of 0.10% and a property crime rate of 0.01%. Mount Pleasant has a violent crime rate of 0.43% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 1.04%. 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 Michigan University Known For?
Central Michigan University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Earth Sciences
- Business
- Chemistry
- Social Work
- Psychology
- Communications
- History
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Political Science
- Education
- Biology
- Engineering
- Medical
- Criminal Justice
- Nursing
- Computer Science
- Physics
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Literature
- Law
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
Central Michigan University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Central Michigan 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
Central Michigan University ranks #194 in the U.S. and #804 worldwide for influence in Earth Sciences.
earth-science DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #236 in the U.S. and #767 worldwide for influence in Business.
business DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #276 in the U.S. and #1390 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #315 in the U.S. and #764 worldwide for influence in Social Work.
social-work DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #331 in the U.S. and #831 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #336 in the U.S. and #1224 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #353 in the U.S. and #990 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #355 in the U.S. and #2106 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #356 in the U.S. and #1481 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #360 in the U.S. and #1418 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #361 in the U.S. and #1550 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #367 in the U.S. and #1491 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #379 in the U.S. and #2326 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #390 in the U.S. and #1422 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #405 in the U.S. and #751 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.
criminal-justice DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #430 in the U.S. and #1167 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #449 in the U.S. and #2097 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #466 in the U.S. and #2121 worldwide for influence in Physics.
physics DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #472 in the U.S. and #1627 worldwide for influence in Sociology.
sociology DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #477 in the U.S. and #1466 worldwide for influence in Anthropology.
anthropology DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #557 in the U.S. and #1703 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #582 in the U.S. and #2024 worldwide for influence in Law.
Central Michigan University ranks #670 in the U.S. and #2247 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.
philosophy DegreesCentral Michigan University ranks #773 in the U.S. and #3633 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.
religious-studies-hub DegreesWho Are Central Michigan University's Most Influential Alumni?
Central Michigan University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Earth Sciences, Criminal Justice, and Social Work. Here are some of Central Michigan University's most famous alumni:
- Dick Enberg
- An American sportscaster .
- Anthony Zinni
- An American Marine Corps general.
- Clark Howard
- A Syndicated Talk radio host, Consumer Advocate, & author.
- Helen Murray Free
- An American chemist and educator.
- Steven Radelet
- An American economist.
- C. W. Thornthwaite
- An American geographer and climatologist.
- Arthur Stinchcombe
- An American sociologist .
- John Grogan
- An American journalist.
- James A. Berlin
- An American academic .
- Chris Kaman
- A German American basketball player.
- William Benoit
- An American political communication scholar.
- James C. Renick
- An American academic.
