CU vs. ETSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Tennessee State University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting); East Tennessee State University is in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting).
• Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cumberland University 19:1; East Tennessee State University 15:1.

CU vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU or ETSU? 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 East Tennessee State University than CU ($16,286 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 17.5% lower than at Cumberland University ($10,554 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 165.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $17,368 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 91.7% higher at CU than at East Tennessee State University (about $13,318 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $14,522.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 144.6% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($24,703 vs. $10,101).

CU vs. ETSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU or ETSU? 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 ETSU and CU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsEast Tennessee State University 980/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsEast Tennessee State University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU - Test-free; ETSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman ETSU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at CU (3.3).
• ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at CU vs. 24.7% at ETSU.

CU vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU and ETSU? 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).

• East Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $100 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $1,229 lower median loan debt than CU graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,729).
• Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU graduates ($211 vs. $224).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 50%)

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.