Central Michigan University

What Central Michigan University does

Central Michigan University is a public university founded in 1892 and headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, offering more than 200 academic programs across multiple colleges including a College of Medicine. It serves traditional undergraduate students, transfer students, graduate students, online/distance learners, and military/veteran students through its main campus, a network of Michigan Centers across the state, and a CMU Online platform that provides global reach. The university also operates 17 NCAA Division I athletics programs with more than 430 student-athletes, 17 residence halls, and over 400 student organizations.

The underlying technology stack centers on a third-party SAP ERP system used for business education and administration, and a Blackboard learning management system for online course delivery. A signature applied-learning offering is the annual ERPsim competition, where student teams operate a simulated company using SAP's integrated ERP, supported by industry mentors from partners including Dow, Meijer, and Collins Aerospace. The university's research footprint is anchored by CMU Research Corporation and includes digital archives (Clarke Historical Library, Digital Michigan Newspapers), while a new consortium of seven Michigan public universities led by CMU is pursuing Department of Defense UARC designation for national security research.

CMU's business model combines tuition and fees (with differential pricing by residency, modality, and program level), auxiliary services such as housing, dining, and bookstore operations, and grants and donations. Merit scholarships reach up to $8,250 per year for freshmen and up to $13,500 over three years for transfers, with 25 specialized scholarships for graduate students. The university is actively expanding outcome-based differentiation through the Central Career Guarantee (effective Fall 2026), dual-admission partnerships with community colleges, and new student-development programs such as EmpowHER, alongside a facilities management operation overseeing a $32 million annual budget and a roughly $180 million capital construction program.

Name

Central Michigan University

Legal name

Central Michigan University

Website

https://cmich.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Central Michigan University is a public university founded in 1892 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, offering 200+ academic programs across multiple colleges. It serves traditional undergraduates, transfer students, graduate students, online learners, and military students through its main campus, statewide Michigan Centers, and global CMU Online platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Online learning platform
• Collegiate athletics programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Pleasant

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with differential pricing for in-state vs out-of-state students, online programs, and various degree levels.
2. Grants and Donations: External funding from foundations, government grants, and alumni/donor contributions including the $350,000 Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation grant for EmpowHER program.
3. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from on-campus housing, dining services, bookstore operations, and event services provided to students and visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Central Michigan University is a public university delivering higher education through over 200 academic programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels across multiple colleges, including a College of Medicine. The university sells tuition-based degree programs delivered on-campus in Mount Pleasant, through regional Michigan Centers statewide, and fully online via CMU Online, supported by student services such as the Central Career Guarantee, the EmpowHER Leadership program, and 17 NCAA Division I athletics programs.

Product overview

Central Michigan University operates as a comprehensive public university offering educational programs, student development services, athletics, and digital archives. The university's technology-enhanced educational offerings include the ERPsim competition using SAP's integrated ERP system, CMU Online for distance education, and various digital collections including newspapers, historical archives, and scholarly works. Student support programs include the EmpowHER Leadership program, Central Career Guarantee, and athletics programs. The institution also maintains digital archives through the Clarke Historical Library and participates in innovation competitions like AquaHacking. CMU's administrative services include facilities management with a $180 million capital construction program. The university's athletics department, CMU Chippewas, manages 17 sports programs with over 430 student-athletes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMU Online Central Michigan University's online learning platform offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs, as well as certificates, delivered fully online or in hybrid formats to students worldwide.
• CMU Innovation and Online CMU division providing online programs, military education, and partnerships through Michigan Centers for flexible learning options statewide and beyond.
• Central Career Guarantee Program that guarantees eligible students a job offer or graduate school acceptance within six months of graduation, or a $2,000 financial support payment if the guarantee is not met.
• EmpowHER Leadership Program Leadership development initiative for female student-athletes providing mentorship, experiential learning, and community impact opportunities to cultivate confidence, resilience, and career readiness.
• ERPsim Competition Annual student competition challenging teams to manage a simulated company using SAP's integrated enterprise resource planning system, making cross-functional decisions across finance, operations, supply chain, and marketing with industry mentorship.
• CMU Chippewas Athletics Central Michigan University's intercollegiate athletics program featuring 17 sports programs and over 430 student-athletes competing in the Mid-American Conference.
• AquaHacking Challenge A seven-month innovation competition inviting students and innovators to develop solutions across water issue areas, offering mentorship, technical support, and up to $70,000 in seed funding including a $25,000 top prize.
• Collins Aerospace Supply Chain Case Competition Annual case competition where students solve real business scenarios involving supply chain challenges, creating internship and full-time job opportunities with Collins Aerospace parent company RTX.
• CMU Vintage Collection Branded merchandise collection featuring vintage-inspired CMU apparel and items available in-store and online for alumni, students, and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eligible students receive job offer or graduate school acceptance within 6 months of graduation, or receive $2,000
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Delta CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 20263+1 transfer pathway for students pursuing CMU's Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership program, allowing seamless transition from associate to bachelor's degree.
• AquaAction (AquaHacking Challenge)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026CMU participates in AquaHacking Binational Great Lakes and St. Lawrence 2026 Challenge, 10th anniversary competition recruiting 1,000 applicants. Offers mentorship, industry experts, and up to $70,000 in seed funding including $25,000 top prize.
• Michigan Educator Workforce InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2026Five major Michigan public universities launched two-year collaborative initiative to strengthen teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention. Responds to teacher turnover data with approximately 7,900 exits and 8,000 entries in 2024-25, with nearly 3% FTE positions vacant statewide.
• Lansing Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Dual-admission partnership called Central Bound, helping Michigan students earn a bachelor's degree through flexible, co-enrolled coursework at both institutions. Students gain CMU status and access services from enrollment day one rather than being classified as transfer students.
• Collins Aerospace (RTX)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025CMU logistics students won first place at Collins Aerospace Supply Chain Case Competition held at Collins Aerospace headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Competition involved real business scenario of sole supplier going out of business. Victory created internship and full-time job opportunities and strengthened recruiting relationship with RTX, Collins Aerospace's parent company.
• Michigan Public University Consortium (National Security)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2025CMU and its research corporation leading consortium of seven Michigan public universities to strengthen U.S. national security through defense-related research and workforce training. Initiative aims to achieve University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designation from Department of Defense.
• Anthony Travel (On Location)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides customized travel services for CMU's 17 sports programs and over 430 student-athletes. Covers team travel, recruiting travel, administrative travel, and fan travel coordination through The Chippewa Athletic Fund.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Saginaw Valley State University: Saginaw Valley State University is a Michigan public university with comparable size, regional positioning, and undergraduate focus. Direct peer for in-state recruitment and transfer partnerships in the Great Lakes Bay region.
• Eastern Michigan University: Eastern Michigan University is a public comprehensive university in Ypsilanti, MI with comparable program portfolio, online division, and Mid-American Conference athletics. Direct peer competing for transfer, online, and Michigan-resident enrollment.
• Grand Valley State University: Grand Valley State University is a large Michigan public university in Allendale with similar comprehensive program offerings and strong regional draw. Direct competitor for Michigan undergraduates, online learners, and transfer pathways.
• Western Michigan University: Western Michigan University is a public research university in Kalamazoo, MI with similar program breadth, public-Michigan positioning, and Division I athletics. Directly comparable as a Michigan regional public competing for the same in-state student pool and tuition model.
• Ball State University: Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, Indiana with comparable enrollment size, comprehensive program portfolio, and online education offerings. Direct peer as a Midwest regional public with similar career-oriented positioning.
• Ferris State University: Ferris State University is a Michigan public university with applied/career-oriented programming and a comparable enrollment size. Comparable as a Michigan public with vocational and transfer pathways and similar tuition-driven revenue model.
• University of Northern Iowa: University of Northern Iowa is a Midwest public university comparable in size, program breadth, and Division I athletics. Listed as a peer based on direct head-to-head competition with CMU at the Collins Aerospace Supply Chain Case Competition.
• Northern Michigan University: Northern Michigan University is a public university in Marquette, MI with similar size, public comprehensive profile, and rural-campus setting. Comparable peer competing for in-state students, online learners, and upper Midwestern recruits.

Broad incumbents

• University of Michigan: University of Michigan is the state's flagship public university with highly-ranked programs including medicine, research, and online offerings. Overlaps with CMU on College of Medicine, online programs, and Michigan-resident recruitment, but operates at vastly larger scale and brand prestige.
• Michigan State University: Michigan State University is the state's flagship public research university with extensive online, graduate, and professional programs. Overlaps with CMU across most program areas but operates at much larger scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CMUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-michigan-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Michigan University