Central Michigan University partners with The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools for Charter to CMU Guarantee

Central Michigan University has partnered with The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools to create the Charter to CMU Guarantee, which guarantees admission into the university for students from a list of 25 eligible charter schools. 

According to the webpage for the Charter to CMU Guarantee, the 25 schools that are eligible as part of the agreement for the 2025-2026 school year are A.G.B.U. Alex and Marie Manoogian School, Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan, Center Line Preparatory Academy, Central Academy, Charyl Stockwell Academy, Countryside Academy, da Vinci Schools, Detroit Leadership Academy, Flex High School of Michigan, FlexTech High School, Great Lakes Learning Academy, Insight School of Michigan, International Academy of Flint, Ivywood Classical Academy, Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Kensington Woods Schools, NexTech High School, Oakland FlexTech High School, Old Redford Academy, Pansophia Academy, Riverside Academy, Summit Academy North, Trillium Academy, WAY Michigan, and West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science.

Students from these schools who have a grade point average of at least 2.8 will be guaranteed admission into Central Michigan University. Their application fee will also be waived. The goal of the partnership is to streamline the college admissions process for charter school students.

According to an article on Central Michigan University's website, Patricia Young, who serves as the university’s director of undergraduate recruitment, was quoted as saying, “When you demystify the admissions process and are transparent for students and their families, we turn what might feel like a barrier into a bridge.”

Corey Northrop, the executive director of The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools, echoed these sentiments, saying, “From their charter classrooms to CMU’s campus, we want students to see college as a real and attainable path—and to view us as a natural extension of their educational journey.”

In addition to the Charter to CMU Guarantee, Central Michigan is working with educators at charter schools, as well. The university offers the Charter Educator Tuition Program, which gives teachers at a list of eligible charter schools up to a 50% tuition discount on certain degree programs for their own continuing education. 

For more information about Central Michigan University, visit the school’s website.