CCAD vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, 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 CCAD based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbus College of Art & Design is located in Columbus, OH (Large City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus College of Art & Design 10:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

CCAD vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCAD 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 CCAD ($18,499 vs. $31,801).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus College of Art & Design are 10.5% lower than at Cumberland University ($11,450 vs. $12,800).
• Columbus College of Art & Design is 46.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $12,985 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.6% higher at CCAD than at Cumberland University (about $12,985 more per year; $40,825.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Columbus College of Art & Design as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 7.4% larger than aid received by Columbus College of Art & Design students ($24,703 vs. $23,000).

CCAD vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCAD 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 CCAD.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCAD - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
• CCAD has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.1% at CCAD vs. 40.5% at CU.

CCAD vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCAD 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).

• Columbus College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than CCAD graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $38,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $5,271 lower median loan debt than CCAD graduates ($21,729 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAD graduates ($224 vs. $279).
• More CCAD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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.