Central Michigan University Vs University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Compare Fees, Placement, Reviews
Compare Central Michigan University Vs University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign based on their rankings, fees, programs, acceptance rate, admission requirements, placements, and more. Analyze Central Michigan University Vs University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on various parameters to choose the right university for International students.
Compare Central Michigan University Vs University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign based on their rankings, fees, programs, acceptance rate, admission requirements, placements, and more. Analyze Central Michigan University Vs University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on various parameters to choose the right university for International students.
Central Michigan University
Choose Course ->
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Choose Course ->
Add College
Central Michigan University
Choose Course ->
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Choose Course ->
Add College
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignStudent Ratings
Rating of colleges
3.7/5
8 Verified Reviews
2.6 Internships- 3.1 Part time work
- 3.9 Post study jobs
- 4.3 Quality of faculty
- 4.8 Student Life
View More Ratings
4.4/5
6 Verified Reviews- 4.2 Internships
- 4.7 Part time work
- 4.3 Post study jobs
- 5 Quality of faculty
- 4.8 Student Life
View More Ratings
Add college to view Student's Rating
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignCourse Comparison
5 Popular courses in colleges
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana Champaign MS
View Detailed MS comparision ->
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana Champaign MPH
View Detailed MPH comparision ->
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana Champaign MBA/PGDM
View Detailed MBA/PGDM comparision ->
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Others UG
View Detailed Others UG comparision ->
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana Champaign B.E. / B.Tech
View Detailed B.E. / B.Tech comparision ->
Other courses
- BBA (21 courses)
- B.A. (21 courses)
- B.Ed (17 courses)
- B.J.M.C. (6 courses)
- B.Sc. (22 courses)
View More course
- BBA (22 courses)
- B.A. (36 courses)
- B.Ed (6 courses)
- B.J.M.C. (6 courses)
- B.Sc. (34 courses)
View More course
Add college to view Courses
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignCollege Comparison
About College
Established Year
1892
Number of Campus
1
Number of Scholarships
-/-
Campus Size
871 Acres
Accepted Exams
TOEFL+3 More
Established Year
1867
Number of Campus
1
Number of Scholarships
-/-
Campus Size
6370 Acres
Accepted Exams
TOEFL+2 More
Established Year
-/-
Number of Campus
-/-
Number of Scholarships
-/-
Campus Size
-/-
Accepted Exams
-/-
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignCampus Comparison
Campus videos & images
Central Michigan University_video
Central Michigan University_video
Central Michigan University_video
Central Michigan University_video
Central Michigan University
Charles V. Park Library
Education and Human Services Building
Kulhavi Hall
Robinson Hall
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Aerial View
Basketball Court
Cafeteria
Classroom
Dorm
Dorm
University of Illinois Bike Tour
The Journey Is Yours | The Power Of I
The Campus Tour | Urbana-Champaign
Front View
Building
Outside view
Campus
View
Winter View
ConvocationBuildingOutside viewCampusViewWinter ViewConvocationGet a detailed campus view, add a college
Country Facts
Study in USA
Top Ranked and Reputed Universities
Diverse range of world-renowned institutions, offering cutting-edge program- Access to top-notch faculty, resources, and extensive alumni networks
Campus Culture and Safety- Vibrant multicultural environment, fostering tolerance and global exposure
- Stringent safety measures with campus police and emergency protocols
Good Quality of Life- High living standards, comprehensive healthcare, and excellent infra
- Access to diverse recreational activities and and natural attractions
Study in USA
Top Ranked and Reputed Universities- Diverse range of world-renowned institutions, offering cutting-edge program
- Access to top-notch faculty, resources, and extensive alumni networks
Campus Culture and Safety- Vibrant multicultural environment, fostering tolerance and global exposure
- Stringent safety measures with campus police and emergency protocols
Good Quality of Life- High living standards, comprehensive healthcare, and excellent infra
- Access to diverse recreational activities and and natural attractions
Get a detailed view about the country. Add a college!
Student’s views on campus
Views on Central Michigan University campus
J
JT
BS/BA in Logistics Management - Batch of 2026
3.3
There are very few job opportunities available for international students.
Tips: Studying here taught me how to slow down and truly absorb everything that is going on. Here, I got a lot of time to truly learn, grow and reflect. The downside is that there are close to no jobs and openings for international students, and a lot of research funding has been cut, which is making it seem like a somewhat hostile landscape right now. Detroit is a couple of hours away, and we would make it a point to go there every two weeks for supplies and entertainment.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 3400
Prepping time for classes34 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 92925
A
Anonymous
Master of Science in Information Systems - Batch of 2026
3.8
Learning a lot throughout.
Tips: Studying here wasn't my first choice, but it turned out to be the right one. The faculty is good, the people around are great, and someone is always happy to help. The city is peaceful, with plenty of Indians residing there. My program has some of the best professors, who are also very supportive.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 2725
Prepping time for classes32 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 85975
T
Tharuni
Master of Science in Information Systems - Batch of 2021
3.9
The university is good with highly educated lecturers with affordable tuition.
Tips: Central Michigan University is a good and top university with highly educated lecturers with affordable tuition fees. The faculty is good, and everything depends on us. There are a lot of opportunities on campus that relate to technical studies. You can explore as much as you can, and all of the faculty will be so friendly and helpful in academics, as well as in preparing and motivating you to participate in any of the hackathons or webinars. Try to participate as many times as you can, and you will find good opportunities with connections. On-campus part-time work is available if you apply in advance. I would definitely recommend the university to international students, but again, it depends on you to land a high-paying job or not.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 500
Prepping time for classes23 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 75950
A
Anonymous
Master of Science in Information Systems - Batch of 2024
4.2
Great learning environment with cultural exposure.
Tips: CMU offers a strong Master's in Information Systems programme with practical learning. Adjusting to the cultural shift was initially challenging but rewarding. I received a graduate assistantship that helped with tuition and living costs.
Likes (Student Life): The university provides strong guidance and resources for applying to and finding internships. The faculty in my department is accessible and approachable. They are quite friendly and open to solving any of our queries regarding academics or professional advice when we reach out to them through email.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 525
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 87075
P
Praneeth Pogula
Master of Science in Information Systems - Batch of 2024
3.2
The student life is very diverse and the faculty helps you to grow big in your professional life.
Tips: Initially, I came for the August 2022 intake and I stayed on campus for the first semester and had a lot of American friends over there and also made Indian friends in classes then moved off campus in the second semester which helped me save some money. People in Mount Pleasant are warm and welcoming, and there is no crime rate. We don't specifically have any scholarships for international students but I highly recommend students apply for graduate assistance as they will be selected if they score a good grade in the semester in all subjects so that they will be waving one subject fee in the next semester and it repeats every year if you continue as a graduate assistant. On a scale of 10, I would rate 8 for CMU in terms of university subjects, accommodation and the environment.
Likes (Quality of faculty): For Masters in Information Systems, we have highly qualified professionals who make understanding the subject very easy as they will clarify your doubts and also help you with the assignment doubts. The core structure will be divided into parts in such a way that from the understanding of the class you have to do assignments weekly and there will be tests every month all over the semester and one final exam. Every assignment and in-class activity will be evaluated and given a score at the end so I highly recommend not to miss any class. Here, I felt a different way of teaching style as compared to India. The professors at CMU will explain a topic and at the same time make you do the assignments based on the concepts they have told us so that we will be able to grasp them quickly and get hands-on experience on the topic.
Dislikes (Indian Food): Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant. Here there are no Indian restaurants or stores where people from India can try so we have to rely on American food such as McD, Burger King etc.
To have Indian food we have to travel to the nearest big city Lansing which is an hour's drive from Mount Pleasant or Detroit ( Farmington Hills ) which is a two-hour drive, where we can explore a lot of Indian cuisine and grocery stores, that is the reason why I chose one star for country food in Mount Pleasant. You can try Qdoba or Chipotle as these tastes will be the nearest to Indian food. A bowl will cost around 12- 20 $ depending on what your protein toppings are. As we don't have a lot of Indian options around Mount Pleasant we almost cook at home and invite friends over weekends to cook biryanis. Once every month we go outings to Lansing to have Indian food and watch movies.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 600
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 80000
A
Ashish Pushkar
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2022
3.7
Have fun, don’t stress! Study, adopt and take meaningful steps.
Tips: There'll be cultural shock for sure be it's a different country. But calming yourself down will help a lot. Thinking before doing anything is always helpful. Make friends, don't take on your heart if someone is making fun of you, you can make fun as well. I'm satisfied with the university, country and course I have chosen for my Masters.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1500
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 70550
Priyanka Saini
Master of Science in Administration - Project Management - Batch of 2023
3
Serenity but challenging
Tips: Campus is really huge so it's good for walking. College conducts a lot of activities so it's fun and students can enjoy. CMU could be the best option if you are looking for courses with reasonable fees and low living expenses. However, if someone is looking high standard and wanna see US life then I doubt CMU can be a good fit.
Likes (Student Life): Mount Pleasant city is mainly known for Central Michigan University so we only see people on main campus. There is nothing much to do outside campus. There is no single Indian restaurant in Mt Pleasant. However, there are places nearby where you can roam around but need to look for public transport if you don't have a private vehicle which is again a big problem. There is nothing much in Mt Pleasant but CMU is the main reason for being in Mt Pleasant. College conduct a lot of activities so students can enjoy their time in campus.
Dislikes (Public transportation): There is only one public transport iRide which has fixed spots for pickup and drop. For commute, need to schedule in advance and waiting time is too long. It's ok during summer but really challenging during winter because of snowfall. Most of graduates' classes are in evening and there is no public transport after 8 pm. After 8 pm there is only one which is at 10 pm and nothing in between 8-10 pm.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 815
Prepping time for classes20 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 98547
Sherly Nandha
Master of Science in Administration - Project Management - Batch of 2024
4.5
I like CMU and never thought I made a wrong decision.
Tips: Life here is not as shown in movies. Prepare for the worst and you will survive not only here but in any other part of the world. Part-time jobs take time but you need to be patient. You can apply from India and come over here and work immediately. The climate here is very cold be prepared when you arrive. You can buy winter clothes here so don't buy winter clothes or a laptop if you don't have one.
Likes (Quality of faculty): Faculty are approachable and they welcome any sort of disagreement in the class. I have fun attending and learning things, it is way different from India. The assignments are not heavy but still make your whole week busy. To meet the faculty you need to make a prior appointment and it's complex at times but the best thing is to get your doubts clarified once the class is finished. Faculty will spend extra time if you ask questions after class.
Dislikes (Indian Food): The place where I live doesn't have any Indian stores but the food can be managed if you can cook with what you get. Try to bring spices and a cooker from India and, if possible, avoid salt and sugar for immigration purposes. Food is not that big issue here you will adjust.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 461
Prepping time for classes10 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 81356
A
Abhijeeth Reddy Bobbala
Master of Science in Information Systems - Batch of 2021
3.2
Hard to find part-time work.
Tips: Don't panic. The moment you enter the university seeing new people. Stay calm and join any student association they will help you in your hour of need. There are Indian stores nearby. There is so many Indian students association available. These are things students should know.
Likes (Quality of faculty): Most of the faculty in this university have high knowledge in their field. Some professors are doing research in their field that would benefit the students under the faculty. The faculty is very jovial and friendly with the students. They are supporting students in every way possible.
Dislikes (Part time work): Nowadays it is very competitive to get work. The only place you can do part-time is in college that too from 1st year 2nd sem. You will get that job only if your academics are high and with the connections you made with the seniors and with the faculty. Most of the cases getting part-time is hard.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 133
Prepping time for classes20 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
Views on University of Illinois Urbana Champaign campus
A
Anonymous
Master of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership - Batch of 2026
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4.3
A big university in a small town with modern facilities.
Tips: The university is truly awesome, you don't have to worry about that. If you are looking for a calm but fun town to spend your 5 years of the Ph.D, then you are looking at the right place. It's very fresh in here. If you are expecting US city life, then you probably need to go to Chicago, which is around 3 hours away from here. There are many on-campus jobs available and even plenty of off-campus jobs as well. If you are a graduate student, it's even better because you can work with professors on their research projects. The hourly pay is also not bad as the expenses in this town are very low. Overall, I am very satisfied with the environment, people, university culture, eating out options, etc.
Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): In general, there are fewer immigration options in the US. Provided the current scenario, the opportunities are getting even fewer. If I get a chance to permanently immigrate to the US, I would definitely not think twice about it. But the chances are better if you are from a STEM field or Academia.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1400
Prepping time for classes15 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 70000
Keval Morabia
Professional Master of Computer Science (MCS) - Batch of 2020
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4.5
One of the best CS grad schools where I was able to make net positive money during my Masters!
Tips: Do not let cold weather be a reason for not joining UIUC, you get used to it. Apart from the thesis, there is no difference between MS and MS programme and both are considered the same for job applications but the thesis programme helps you improve your profile by getting to work with a professor on a research project. Computer Science programme has decent TA/RA opportunities and if you get one, you get 100% fee waiver and $2500 monthly stipend which is well above the monthly expenses. Post covid, intake to the professional MS programme has significantly increased from ~60 to ~300 resulting in a lot more competition to get a TA/RA.
Likes (Quality of faculty): UIUC has some of the best faculty in Computer Science, many times professors teach content that has been published in books by themselves. UIUC has many diverse professors, a very wide choice of course selection and a lot of flexibility in choosing courses.
Dislikes (Indian Food): Since Urban-Champaign is a college town, there are not that many Indian restaurants and for people who eat Jain food, there are hardly any food options outside. But there are many events in the department buildings where you can occasionally get free Pizzas.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1000
Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
Akash Singh
Master of Science in Systems and Entrepreneurial Engineering - Batch of 2022
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
5
Best campustown in USA which gives you most bang for your buck compared to anywhere in states
Tips: Very accommodating culture. It will be the best experience of your life. Teachers are very knowledgeable. MS programme can be tailored to your liking where you can take courses from any department without much restrictions. This happened to be the best experience of my life.
Likes (Safety): Campustown is organized in a manner where all the students converge to Green Street where we have everything needed creating an awesome environment to meet new people and have fun. Cricket lovers can join Cricket Club of Illinois for a rewarding cricket experience and tons of tournaments in summer.
Dislikes (Public transportation): Faculty is very approachable and compassionate. After first semester most Masters student can find a RA or TA position. Try to meet with the faculty and show what drives you to do research and teaching and you will get a way around. The faculty is well-educated and mostly from universities ranked above UIUC.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 900
Prepping time for classes10 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 62650
A
Anonymous
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering - Batch of 2024
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4.1
Most people and faculty are friendly.
Tips: Champaign is the best town to live in for those coming to the US for the first time. Pros such as low rent, a friendly campus, etc. can be of help. I availed a Research Assistantship which resulted in a tuition fee waiver. Very satisfied with my courses and the University.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1000
Prepping time for classes21 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD
A
Anonymous
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering - Batch of 2023
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
3.9
My Review on doing a Masters in UIUC
Tips: Since the university is in Illinois, the weather during the winters is brutal, which most Indians will find difficult to adapt to. Hence I advise you to buy proper winter clothes when winter approaches. The grocery stores on or near campus are also expensive, so you need to learn how to buy food in bulk without wasting anything. UIUC has a large diaspora of not only Indians but other nationalities as well, so socializing is necessary but not tedious. Despite this, feelings of loneliness can set in since everyone will be busy studying for their courses, which one should be prepared for.
Likes (Public transportation): The campus has a functional transportation service which is free for students of UIUC, with plenty of buses there to reach most parts of Champaign-Urban. Despite buses taking more time to reach the destination you wish to go to, the part that is already included in your tuition fees is convenient since one pays $60 as public transportation fees.
Dislikes (Value for money): Since I did my Masters in Aerospace Engineering, finding internships for myself was tedious due to ITAR. And unlike Indian institutes, we have to find internships by ourselves because most companies that come to the career fair look for US citizens only, though I would advise going to the career fair anyway to network.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1200
Prepping time for classes30 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 85000
A
Ayush Sharma
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2026
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4.3
You will be required to work hard.
Tips: UIUC is a work hard-play hard type of university. If you're into that, then definitely do apply! Also keep in mind that UIUC does not give out many scholarships to international students.
The research opportunities are great here, along with more than 1000+ clubs and organizations.
Likes (Public transportation): The bus transportation system is one of the best in the country. The bus system is free for all students, and the bus network extends beyond the campus, to the surrounding Champaign-Urbana area. There are a number of buses, which means there's never a shortage or long waiting time on them. Buses are also more so generally they are quite on time.
Dislikes (Indian Food): There aren't many authentic versions of Indian dishes in the dining halls. Although, you could get Indian food in restaurants outside the campus. Some days, in particular dining halls such as ISR, Indian food is provided in the form of samosas or paneer, however I wouldn't rely on the authenticity.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 6516
Prepping time for classes20 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 150000
R
Rishabh Asthana
Master of Science in Computer Science - Batch of 2017
Offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
4.2
Life changing and worthwhile experience.
Tips: Before you join this university, it is important to prepare beforehand regarding the course curriculum and academic requirements. If possible, get a tour of the campus before you permanently move in and join whatever informative sessions are held. Part- time opportunities are not so great.
Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 6700
Prepping time for classes39 hours/Week
Expected Annual SalaryUSD 113750
Add college to view Student's Review
Similar colleges 👇
Missouri State University
Springfield, USAPublic
₹ 5.11 L - 33.29 L
Purdue University
West Lafayette, USAPublic
₹ 13.05 L - 38.33 L
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, USAPublic
₹ 4.59 L - 15.5 L
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, USAPublic
₹ 29.56 L - 71.5 L
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, USAPublic
₹ 9.01 L - 26.9 L
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, USAPublic
₹ 12.94 L - 57.71 L
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, USAPublic
₹ 10.36 L - 22.1 L
University of Washington
Seattle, USAPublic
₹ 7.15 L - 65.35 L
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, USAPublic
₹ 6.92 L - 22.66 L
University College Cork
Cork, IrelandPublic
₹ 9.91 L - 53.4 L
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignRank Comparison
Ranks
Want to save this comparison?
Central Michigan University V/s University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Popular & recent articles
USA
Raushan Kumar · Sep 11, 2025
Aishwarya Bhatnagar · Sep 19, 2025
Aishwarya Bhatnagar · Sep 8, 2025
43 views
View all News & Updates