CAU vs. Cumberland College

Should I go to Clark Atlanta University or University of the Cumberlands? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CAU or Cumberland College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Clark Atlanta University vs. University of the Cumberlands comparison
Clark Atlanta University University of the Cumberlands College 3 College 4
Clark Atlanta University University of the Cumberlands
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Overview

 CAU Cumberland College
Location Atlanta, GA Williamsburg, KY
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 4,000 18,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #971 #952
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cau.edu ucumberlands.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CAU Cumberland College
Tuition (In State) $21,948 $9,875
Tuition (Out of State) $21,948 $9,875
Room & Board $10,982 $9,300
Avg Net Price $30,015 $14,337
Avg Grant Aid $9,431 $9,822
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 99%

Admission

 CAU Cumberland College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,153 2,314
Admitted 9,088 1,921
Acceptance Rate 56.3% 83%
Enrolled % 12.7% 33.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.28 3.47
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20 16/23
SAT Range 880/1120 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Aug 31, 2025

Academics

 CAU Cumberland College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (26%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 CAU Cumberland College
Graduation Rate 41% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $13,956
Median Loan Payment $320 $144

Diversity

 CAU Cumberland College
% Men 24% 46%
% Women 76% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 76%
% Black 84% 6%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 1%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 13% 10%

Students

 CAU Cumberland College
% In-State 27% 65%
% Out-of-State 72% 28%

Campus

 CAU Cumberland College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of the Cumberlands is larger than than CAU based on total student enrollment (18,053 students vs. 4,000 students)

CAU vs. Cumberland College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CAU or Cumberland College?

  • Clark Atlanta University is 122.3% more expensive to attend than Cumberland College for in-state tuition ($21,948.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 122.3% higher at CAU than University of the Cumberlands ($21,948.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the Cumberlands than CAU ($14,337 vs. $30,015)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Cumberlands are 18.1% lower than costs at Clark Atlanta University ($9,300 vs. $10,982)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of the Cumberlands than Clark Atlanta University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Cumberlands students is 4.1% larger than aid received Clark Atlanta University ($9,822 vs. $9,431)

CAU vs. Cumberland College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CAU or Cumberland College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cumberland College or CAU .

  • The average SAT score at University of the Cumberlands (1022) is 172 points higher than at CAU (850)
  • Incoming Cumberland College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at CAU (18)
  • Accepted freshman Cumberland College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at CAU (3.28)
  • Cumberland College has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than CAU (56.3%)

CAU vs. Cumberland College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CAU or Cumberland College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Cumberland College and CAU.

  • The graduation rate at Cumberland College is higher than Clark Atlanta University (43% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Clark Atlanta University earn on average $1,700 more per year than Cumberland College graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $36,700)
  • University of the Cumberlands students graduate with a $17,044 lower median federal student loan debt than CAU graduates. ($13,956 vs. $31,000)
  • Cumberland College graduates are paying $176 less per month on federal student loans than CAU graduates. ($144 vs. $320)
  • More Cumberland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CAU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/