Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 61/100

Cumberland University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Lebanon, Tennessee

About Cumberland University

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.

Acceptance
67.3%
Graduation
55.1%
Net Price
$18,759
Median Earnings (10yr)
$57,687
Enrollment
2,104
Student : Faculty
18:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

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
Outcomes 17
Value 63
Affordability 50
Selectivity 66

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 Policy Test Optional Applicants 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
61%201953.8%202057.8%202166.2%202267%2023

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.

$3,250
10% percentile
$5,950
25% percentile
$17,952
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$31,250
90% 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
Pell recipients: 14.8% (2,656 students)No Pell: 15.8% (2,834 students)Dependent students: 13.5% (2,426 students)Independent students: 26.3% (4,723 students)Female students: 14.8% (2,656 students)Male students: 14.8% (2,656 students)Overall Median$17,952
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.

$51,000$53,000$56,000$58,000$60,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
70.7%1yr76.5%3yr82.2%5yr80.4%7yr
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
White: 57.8% (1,217 students)Black: 12.5% (263 students)Hispanic: 9.5% (200 students)International: 6.8% (142 students)Other: 4.7% (99 students)Asian: 1.4% (30 students)Total2,104

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: Fringe Lebanon, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential 625 beds available
Adult Learners
5% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling 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.

6 Programs
2 Programs
5 Programs
2 Programs
3 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

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.

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