AAC vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Academy of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than AAC based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 213 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Academy of Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Academy of Cincinnati 9:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

AAC vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAC or CU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cumberland University than AAC ($18,499 vs. $33,491).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 16.7% lower than at Cumberland University ($10,660 vs. $12,800).
• Art Academy of Cincinnati is 48.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $13,535 more per year; $41,375.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.6% higher at AAC than at Cumberland University (about $13,535 more per year; $41,375.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Art Academy of Cincinnati as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Art Academy of Cincinnati students ($24,703 vs. $19,460).

AAC vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAC or CU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CU and AAC.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAC - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: AAC Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at AAC (3.1).
• CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than AAC (34.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.4% at AAC vs. 40.5% at CU.

AAC vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAC and CU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Art Academy of Cincinnati's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than AAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $5,271 lower median loan debt than AAC graduates ($21,729 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAC graduates ($224 vs. $279).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.