Head-to-head comparison
Central Michigan University vs Andrews University: which has better ROI?
Option A Mount Pleasant, MI
Central Michigan University
- Net price / year
- $17,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,874
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Berrien Springs, MI
Andrews University
- Net price / year
- $12,547
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,187
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
Central Michigan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,388 in 9.4 years versus 10.4 years at Andrews University, on median earnings of $55,874 vs $53,187 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Michigan University | Andrews University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,597 | $12,547 |
| Total net cost | $70,388 | $50,188 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,874 | $53,187 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $79,892 | $46,352 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Michigan University or Andrews University?
Andrews University, at $12,547 a year after aid versus $17,597 — a gap of $5,050 a year, or $20,200 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Central Michigan University or Andrews University graduates earn more?
Central Michigan University graduates report a median $55,874 ten years after entry, $2,687 more than the $53,187 at Andrews University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Central Michigan University or Andrews University?
Andrews University: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Central Michigan University, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Andrews University, against 59% at Central Michigan University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.