Columbus State vs. CU

Deciding between Columbus 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.

Columbus State University
Cumberland University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Columbus State Columbus, GA
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Columbus State Midsize City
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbus State 7,913
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Columbus State Public 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Columbus State #1007
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Columbus State -
  • CU -
  • Status
  • Columbus State Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Columbus State
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Columbus State $5,898
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Columbus State $17,610
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • Columbus State $11,720
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Columbus State $12,420
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Columbus State $9,003
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Columbus State 89%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Columbus State 3,648
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Columbus State 3,616
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Columbus State 99.1%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Columbus State 31.8%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbus State 930
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbus State 19
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Columbus State 3.07
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Columbus State B
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Columbus State Extremely Easy
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Columbus State
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Columbus State 16/22
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • Columbus State 800/1060
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Columbus State Test optional
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Columbus State Jun 30, 2027
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Columbus State 16:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Columbus State
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (4%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Columbus State 31%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Columbus State $37,400
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Columbus State 37%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Columbus State $26,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Columbus State $268
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Columbus State 41%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • Columbus State 59%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Columbus State High
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • Columbus State No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • Columbus State 51%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • Columbus State 2%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • Columbus State 37%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Columbus State 6%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Columbus State 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Columbus State 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Columbus State 2%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • Columbus State 1%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Columbus State 0%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Columbus State 92%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Columbus State 7%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Columbus State University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (7,913 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbus State University is located in Columbus, GA (Midsize City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Columbus State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbus State University 16:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Columbus State vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State 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 Columbus State University than CU ($12,420 vs. $18,499).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbus State University are 8.4% lower than at Cumberland University ($11,720 vs. $12,800).
  • Cumberland University is 372% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbus State (about $21,942 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $5,898.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.1% higher at CU than at Columbus State University (about $10,230 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $17,610.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Columbus State University (100% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 174.4% larger than aid received by Columbus State University students ($24,703 vs. $9,003).

Columbus State vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbus State University 800/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Columbus State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Columbus State - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Columbus State Jun 30, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Columbus State (3.07).
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (99.1%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at Columbus State vs. 40.5% at CU.

Columbus State vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Columbus State 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 Columbus State University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Columbus State graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $4,271 lower median loan debt than Columbus State graduates ($21,729 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbus State graduates ($224 vs. $268).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 37%)

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.