Points of
2023 / 2024
Central Michigan CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, WE DO.
Our maroon and gold reach
» CMU enrollment topped 14,300 in August 2024, with the largest class of first-year students since 2019
» 77.7% of on-campus freshmen are from Michigan
» Students also come from 45 states and 62 countries
» 80% of CMU graduates stay in Michigan
» More than 250,000 alumni worldwide
Preparing graduates for successful careers
94.9% of CMU graduates are employed, continuing their education or engaged in volunteer service within six months of receiving their diplomas
26% higher earnings for CMU graduates just two years after graduation, compared to the national median
University
Learning throughdoing
» Students compete for thousands of dollars in real start-up funds through the New Venture Challenge. Workshops, mentor meetups and an industry panel of judges help students develop, refine and launch successful business ventures.
» In addition to graduate students, 150+ undergraduates each year do research beside faculty, many on federally funded projects
» Finance students manage a combined $2.5 million worth of endowed funds
» Students gain professional experience in front of the camera and behind the desk through the nationally recognized, student-run Moore Hall TV, News Central broadcast and CM Life digital media
» Anthropology students use 3-D printers to create fossil replicas and learn at sites from around the world
» Students learn by using the only baby thermal manikin in North America – where fashion merchandising and design students test apparel to help keep babies dry
standardFaculty setting the
» Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty member Katie Strong served hundreds of people living with aphasia during the COVID-19 pandemic, including through creation of a virtual aphasia book club. Aphasia affects a person’s ability to communicate, most commonly after a stroke or head injury.
» Will Anderson, School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts faculty member, wows audiences with his audio dramas, recently winning Best of Competition at the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts for his audio drama “The Holiday Spirit”
» Political science Professor Prakash Adhikari received the 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Award to teach and conduct research on forced migration and global security at the University of Malawi in Malawi, Africa
» Management faculty member Amy McGinnis was recognized by the ACE Women’s Network with a Distinguished Women in Higher Education Leadership Award
in all We Do Leading
Ranked among the best in the country
18 CMU graduate programs are ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News and World Report (out of 800 universities offering graduate degrees). Nine are in the top 150:
» Audiology (#34 nationally; #1 in Michigan)
» Online Master’s in Information Technology Programs (#66)
» Online Masters in Education Programs (#73)
» Online MBA Programs for Veterans (#77)
» Speech-Language Pathology (#78)
» Statistics (#92)
» Online MBA Programs (#120)
» Clinical Psychology (#129)
» History (#140)
» In addition to its new program in nursing, CMU is adding a biotechnology major with concentrations in microscopy and molecular biology
» CMU offers more student leadership programming than any other Michigan university and awards the most leadership scholarships in the Midwest
» Michigan State Police has partnered with CMU to elevate professional skills and foster leadership within the department and provide a unique path for law enforcement officers to earn their degrees
» No. 1 member of the SAP University Alliance Program in North America, where students build skills in leading business solutions software
Fueling bright futures
» More than 35,000 incoming CMU students and 5,000 student staff members have boosted their leadership journeys through the multi-day Leadership Safari program since it started in 1997
» Students fuel passions and expand leadership skills through almost 300 social, athletic, artistic, professional and other special interest registered student organizations
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CMU students vie against the best throughout the country to secure the most prestigious scholarships for advanced learning. Our accomplishments since 2012:
Boren Scholars/Fellows, who pursue the intensive study of language and culture abroad. Boren alumni are committed to public service, working in positions critical to U.S. national security.
One
1
Udall Scholar, who was identified as a future environmental leader and received one of just 55 annual awards
10 Ten
Fulbright students, who pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach abroad
Nine
9
Goldwater Scholars, who pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering
2
Two
Humanity in Action Fellows, who explore social justice, human rights, remembrance culture and civic engagement and then implement action projects in their own communities. Just 26 U.S. students a year become fellows.
Advancinghealth care
» The College of Medicine’s Rural Health Equity Institute works to improve access to healthcare, including through telehealth visits and helping medical professionals with strategies to address pressing local needs
» Designed to reduce Michigan’s critical need for nurses, CMU’s four-year nursing program will accept its first students in 2025
» Students in the College of Health Professions have access to 2,500+ internship and clinical site opportunities
» The College of Medicine was ranked among the 2024 Best Graduate Schools for Medicine by U.S. News and World Report for serving rural areas and producing the most graduates practicing in health professional shortage areas and primary care
Innovatingscience & tech
» CMU is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, as designated by the National Security Agency
» Through the Integration of Science, Technology and Engineering (InSciTE) certificate program, students from different majors come together in cohorts to gain highly sought-after skills through real-life STEM challenges
» NASA designated CMU as a space grant institution in 2023, which allows its students and faculty to apply for funding, participate in collaborative research and access specialized equipment such as satellites
Driving cutting-edge
research
» CMU received a record $38 million in research grants and contracts in fiscal year 2024 — 48% more than the previous record. These funds enhance student research, creative endeavors and educational experiences.
» CMU is propelling the representation and advancement of women in STEM through a National Science Foundation grant of nearly $1 million
» Through a $15 million Michigan Department of Education grant, CMU is addressing the dramatic need for teachers in rural communities through an innovative “hub” offering nocost teacher certification and ongoing professional learning opportunities
» Of more than 4,000 U.S. universities, CMU is one of only 133 to earn the R2 Carnegie Classification for its “high research activity”
Achieving realoutcomes
» Understanding the cause of autism spectrum disorder
Grad student Emmanuel Crespo is researching the link between disruptions in brain activity and the development of autism spectrum disorder, using bioluminescence. His research is supported by an NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award.
» Reducing the risk of eating disorders
College of Medicine
faculty member Samantha Hahn’s research is helping understand influences on eating disorder risk among young people
» Cutting down waste
Mechanical engineering grad student Shashwat Maharjan is studying how to predict the temperature of geothermal reservoirs, which could reduce wasted costs during the geothermal resource exploration phase
» Preventing injuries from falls
Fashion grad student
Kaleigh Slot’s research is helping design clothing that prevents injuries from falls among elderly adults
» Combatting deadly diseases
Chemical probes developed by biology faculty member
Ben Swarts and his students could speed up a tuberculosis infection diagnosis and make treatment more affordable
» Helping visualize climate change
Steve Leepeer, a faculty member, and Lindsay Robertson, an alumna of CMU’s 2-year-old animation program, are helping scientists communicate the threats of climate change via illustration, working to increase public understanding where data has failed to do so
Winning on and off the field
340
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students a year in career-building learning opportunities as employees and volunteers, in roles such as courtside reporters, videographers, gameday statistics and operations staff, and marketing assistants
consecutive semesters that our CMU student-athletes have had an average GPA of 3.0 or higher
110
400+
conference championships since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1975
student-athletes in 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports
» Softball player Grace Lehto and lacrosse player Makenna Huhn received bachelor’s degrees in May 2024 and have since begun training as future doctors at the CMU College of Medicine. They are two of eight CMU student-athletes who have been accepted into CMED.
» Football player Lawai’a Brown and baseball player AJ Kostic — both aspiring entrepreneurs — earned top prizes for their business ventures in CMU’s New Venture Challenge
» Cross country and track & field student-athlete Emily Paupore, an aspiring teacher, has broken many records on the track and was the grand prize winner of the GO TEACH Dr. Pepper Giveaway, recognizing studentathletes who will become leaders in the classroom
Committed to giving back
» 12,000+ hours of community service performed by students in the last year, equating to $126,405 in service value
» Thousands of dollars raised by current students for local charities
» #1 Alternative Breaks program student participation among the nation’s public universities
» Students build leadership skills, career skills and civic responsibility through hundreds of volunteer opportunities on campus, in the community and across the country through the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center
Future Forging the
» 34% of those who attend CMU alumni events give back to their alma mater, compared to a national average of just 22%.
» CMU raised $25.9 million in fiscal year 2024, the most successful single year of fundraising in university history
CMU made me a better musician because I played with so many different groups and worked with so many faculty. A personal contact at CMU set me on the path that became my life.”
— ALUM MARK HOLEN, who made the largest financial commitment ever to the School of Music, endowing a professorship in percussion
If we can help student-athletes in any way, we will. We want to see our student-athletes succeed, and we’re grateful to play a small part in ensuring they have a positive experience at CMU and end up with a degree.”
— ALUMS TIM AND SHERRY MAGNUSSON , whose $2 million gift supports CMU Athletics and the College of Business Administration
Since I started school at CMU, I’ve had a hard time trying to cover the cost, which led to me to have to take a semester off school during my sophomore year to repay debts. With the help of this scholarship, I will be able to focus on school without stressing about how I’m going to return the next semester. “
CHRISTOPHER BRACEWELL, CMU student and scholarship recipient
CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity within its community. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex-based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight. Paladin 352 - 250 (10/24)