Side-by-side
Ball State University vs Central Michigan University
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Similar selectivity (90% vs 86%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $30k.
| Ball State University | Central Michigan University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 86% | 90% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $11,082 | $14,760 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $29,630 | $14,760 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $11,082 | $14,760 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $29,630 | $14,760 |
| Graduation rate | 63% | 60% |
| Total enrollment | 13,988 | 10,035 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/ball-state-university-vs-central-michigan-university.