Cumberland University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Lebanon, Tennessee. It enrolls 2,104 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes17
Value63
Affordability50
Selectivity66
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.3%, Cumberland University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Cumberland University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Cumberland University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,759 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,759
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
19%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$27,840
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,640
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,380
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,880
Total Cost of Attendance
$43,358
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,882
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,048
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,609
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,333
Over $110,000
$20,917
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,95025%percentile
$17,952Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,250
↓ $6,702
No Pell $12,000
↓ $5,952
Dependent students $10,275
↓ $7,677
Independent students $20,000
↑ $2,048
Female students $11,250
↓ $6,702
Male students $11,250
↓ $6,702
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($17,952), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
55% of full-time students who enrolled at Cumberland University graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
55%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Cumberland University earn a median of $57,687 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,687
Earning > $25K
83%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Cumberland University is home to 2,104 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,104
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.8%1,217
Black 12.5%263
Hispanic 9.5%200
International 6.8%142
Other 4.7%99
Asian 1.4%30
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Cumberland University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeLebanon, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential625 beds available
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Cumberland University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cumberland University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$55M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,972
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
85 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
11
13%
$64,439
Associate Professors
15
18%
$57,379
Assistant Professors
34
40%
$52,639
Instructors
25
29%
$49,134
Pros & Cons of Cumberland University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Cumberland University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
First-year retention is below typical
Frequently Asked Questions about Cumberland University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Cumberland University.
Is Cumberland University hard to get into?
Admissions at Cumberland University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Cumberland University?
Cumberland University has an acceptance rate of 67.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Cumberland University cost?
The average net price after aid at Cumberland University is $18,759 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Cumberland University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,687 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,759 per year. That's roughly 3.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Cumberland University known for?
Cumberland University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Cumberland University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Cumberland University are $57,687, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Cumberland University accredited?
Yes. Cumberland University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Cumberland University?
Cumberland University enrolls 2,104 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Cumberland University?
Cumberland University graduates 55% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Cumberland University a public or private college?
Cumberland University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Cumberland University located?
Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, Tennessee.
What programs does Cumberland University offer?
Cumberland University offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Cumberland University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Cumberland University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
Other colleges in Tennessee share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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