Bethel vs. CU

Deciding between Bethel University and Cumberland University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Cumberland University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bethel McKenzie, TN
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Bethel Distant Town
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Bethel 2,936
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Bethel Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bethel #966
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
  • CU -
  • Status
  • Bethel Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bethel
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bethel $18,712
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bethel $18,712
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • Bethel $10,538
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Bethel $13,112
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bethel $17,700
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bethel 98%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bethel 1,486
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Bethel 895
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bethel 60.2%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Bethel 32.2%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bethel 980
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bethel 18
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bethel 3.6
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bethel A-
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bethel Extremely Easy
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bethel Low
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bethel 15/21
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • Bethel 830/1120
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bethel Test optional
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Bethel
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bethel 15:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bethel
    • Business (78%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (3%)
    • Health Professions (3%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bethel 32%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bethel $42,700
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bethel 33%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bethel $28,250
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bethel $292
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bethel 46%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • Bethel 54%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bethel High
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • Bethel No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • Bethel 46%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • Bethel 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • Bethel 40%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bethel 1%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Bethel 1%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bethel 5%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bethel 1%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • Bethel 1%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bethel 5%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bethel 82%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bethel 11%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bethel Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bethel No
  • CU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bethel Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bethel Yes
  • CU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bethel No
  • CU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bethel University in McKenzie, TN with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than Bethel based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 2,936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bethel University is located in McKenzie, TN (Distant Town setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Bethel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bethel University 15:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Bethel vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethel 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 Bethel University than CU ($13,112 vs. $18,499).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bethel University are 17.7% lower than at Cumberland University ($10,538 vs. $12,800).
  • Cumberland University is 48.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bethel (about $9,128 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $18,712.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.8% higher at CU than at Bethel University (about $9,128 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $18,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Bethel University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 39.6% larger than aid received by Bethel University students ($24,703 vs. $17,700).

Bethel vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bethel 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 Bethel.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bethel University 830/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bethel University 15/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bethel - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at CU (3.3).
  • CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than Bethel (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.2% at Bethel vs. 40.5% at CU.

Bethel vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bethel 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).

  • Cumberland University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Bethel University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,700 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $6,521 lower median loan debt than Bethel graduates ($21,729 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethel graduates ($224 vs. $292).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 33%)

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.