Columbus State vs. CU

Should I go to Columbus State University or Cumberland University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State or CU 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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Columbus State University vs. Cumberland University comparison
Columbus State University Cumberland University College 3 College 4
Columbus State University Cumberland University
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Overview

Columbus State CU
Location Columbus, GA Lebanon, TN
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,479 2,588
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #995
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu cumberland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State CU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $25,200
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $25,200
Room & Board $12,080 $8,990
Avg Net Price $12,902 $18,528
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $22,145
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Columbus State CU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 2,137
Admitted 3,398 1,415
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 66.2%
Enrolled % 30.4% 44.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23
SAT Range 900/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Columbus State CU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Columbus State CU
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 63%
% Black 37% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 16%

Students

Columbus State CU
% In-State 92% 88%
% Out-of-State 5% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than CU based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 2,588 students)

Columbus State vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or CU?

  • Cumberland University is 476.5% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($25,200.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.4% higher at CU than Columbus State University ($25,200.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than CU ($12,902 vs. $18,528)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 34.4% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($8,990 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than Columbus State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 142.1% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($22,145 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cumberland University (989) is 28 points higher than at Columbus State (961)
  • Incoming CU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Columbus State (20)
  • 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 (87.8%) than CU (66.2%)

Columbus State vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State or CU? 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 CU and Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at CU is higher than Columbus State University (34% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($39,900 vs. $37,400)
  • Cumberland University students graduate with a $4,271 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbus State graduates. ($21,729 vs. $26,000)
  • CU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans 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/