Below average out-of-state enrollment numbers have little to do with marketing efforts and a lot to do with Central Michigan University's geographic position within the state, CMU officials say.

According to statistics compiled by The Detroit News, out-of-state students, on average, account for 10 percent of Michigan's public universities' overall enrollment in 2011. CMU found themselves behind the curve in 2011, with only 5.8 percent of total enrollment comprised of out-of-state students. In 2012, that number improved to 6 percent, 4 percent behind the 2011 state average.

Out of state students are becoming an increasingly important demographic for Michigan universities as in-state student enrollment is forecasted to shrink dramatically. According to Thomas Speakman, director for undergraduate admissions, in-state graduation rates are expected to drop by as much as 20 percent by 2020.

Although CMU is statistically lagging, Speakman said there is little to worry about.

"We're going to get there," he said. "Grand Rapids is little closer to Chicago or Illinois, it's also true for where WMU is located. So we're probably a little further away from Chicago than Grand Valley State University, or Western Michigan. With that said, I think you're going to see our enrollment for out-of-state continue to increase. It truly is not attributable to a lack of effort; it's a case of distance."

CM Life reported in September that limited public transportation to Mount Pleasant might harm CMU's efforts to attract out-of-state students. Even for students traveling by car from closer states like Ohio, Illinois or Indiana, Speakman said the extra hour it takes to get to Mount Pleasant, when compared to Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids, can be a difficult thing to overcome.

Speakman said the reason CMU is behind has little to do with academic programs or a lack of marketing efforts.

"I think we have outstanding academic programs. The medical school is popular, we have a tremendous health profession programs – gosh, we have more than 200 programs," Speakman said. "Academically, we are not deficient."

CMU will always be a Michigan-based institution, but Speakman said the university will need its overall out-of-state and international enrollment to reach 10-15 percent of its total enrollment to be successful.

Out of state presence

CMU has increased its presence within Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin considerably within the last five years, according to Speakman.

The university has not only increased the amount of recruiters within those states, but is also beginning to form a stronger alumni network within the regions for increased outreach.

But CMU's most appealing pitch to out-of-state students is finance-related.

Out of state students are especially appealing to public universities because of the increased amount of profit they bring to the school. Out of state tuition, annually, is $10,000 more than in-state tuition at CMU. However, most out-of-state students pay in-state tuition rates due to the President's Residency Grant.

Also known as the President's Award, the grant allows out-of-state student to attend CMU if they have earned a cumulative GPA in high school of a 2.75 and enroll at CMU as a full-time, on-campus student.

Amy Hauenstein, CMU's Chicago outreach admissions advisor, is employed full-time by the university to attract Chicago residents to CMU. Hauenstein said attending college at CMU is often cheaper for Chicago students than attending universities in Illinois.

"Affordability is very important," she said. "Parents and students are looking for that financial benefit. When we tell them they can get in-state tuition at a B- average, their ears perk up."

A grant like the President's Award is uncommon when compared to programs practiced by other universities within Michigan. No other competitor offers an all-encompassing out-of-state program.

Ferris State University also offers in -tate tuition to out-of-state students with the "Great Lakes Scholarship," which, unlike CMU, is not dependent on GPA. Eastern Michigan University offers in-state tuition only to students in Ohio, and Western Michigan University, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University both require all out-of-state students to pay out-of-state tuition.

Hauenstein said with CMU's financial benefits, she does not know why the university is behind in recruiting. She said distance is often brought up by both students and parents, but she doesn't believe it is a debilitating issue.

"I think students will go where they find the university that fits them," Hauenstein said. "If they find a match, they'll find a way to get there"