Central State University vs. CU

Deciding between Central State 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.

Central State University
Cumberland University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central State University Wilberforce, OH
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Central State University Rural Fringe
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Central State University 2,708
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Central State University Public 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central State University #1022
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central State University -
  • CU -
  • Status
  • Central State University Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central State University
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central State University $8,058
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central State University $10,058
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • Central State University $12,026
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Central State University $11,398
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central State University $18,654
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central State University 99%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central State University 2,810
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Central State University 2,771
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central State University 98.6%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Central State University 19.4%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central State University 860
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central State University 16
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central State University 2.8
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central State University B-
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central State University Extremely Easy
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central State University
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Central State University 14/18
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • Central State University 770/950
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central State University Test-free
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Central State University
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central State University 16:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central State University
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (19%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central State University 24%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central State University $27,200
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central State University 16%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central State University $39,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central State University $403
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central State University 36%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • Central State University 64%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central State University Extremely Low
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • Central State University Yes
  • CU No
  • % White
  • Central State University 1%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • Central State University 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • Central State University 95%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central State University 1%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Central State University 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central State University 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central State University 1%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • Central State University 0%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central State University 1%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central State University 55%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central State University 31%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Central State University in Wilberforce, 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 Central State University based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 2,708 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central State University is located in Wilberforce, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Central State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central State University 16:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Central State University vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central State University 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 Central State University than CU ($11,398 vs. $18,499).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 6% lower than at Cumberland University ($12,026 vs. $12,800).
  • Cumberland University is 245.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central State University (about $19,782 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $8,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 176.8% higher at CU than at Central State University (about $17,782 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,058.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Central State University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 32.4% larger than aid received by Central State University students ($24,703 vs. $18,654).

Central State University vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central State University 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 Central State University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central State University 770/950.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central State University 14/18.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central State University - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Central State University (2.8).
  • Central State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.6%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Central State University vs. 40.5% at CU.

Central State University vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central State University 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 Central State University's (24%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than Central State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $27,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $17,271 lower median loan debt than Central State University graduates ($21,729 vs. $39,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $179 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central State University graduates ($224 vs. $403).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 16%)

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.