CU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern

Deciding between Cumberland University and The University of Tennessee Southern? 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.

Cumberland University
The University of Tennessee Southern

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Pulaski, TN
  • Setting
  • CU Distant Town
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • CU 3,457
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1,046
  • Type
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern #907
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU -
  • The University of Tennessee Southern United Methodist
  • Status
  • CU Non-profit
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU $27,840
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU $27,840
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,924
  • Room & Board
  • CU $12,800
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $8,300
  • Average Net Price
  • CU $18,499
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $14,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU $24,703
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $10,358
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU 100%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU 2,495
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 760
  • Admitted
  • CU 1,680
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 659
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU 67.3%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 86.7% Open
  • Enrolled
  • CU 40.5%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 26.1% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU 3.3
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 3.17
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU B+
  • The University of Tennessee Southern B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Unavailable
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Low
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
  • ACT Range
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Test-free
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CU
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU 19:1
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)
  • The University of Tennessee Southern
    • Business (18%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU 34%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU $39,900
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $34,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU 60%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU $21,729
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $22,315
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU $224
  • The University of Tennessee Southern $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU 47%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 39%
  • % Women
  • CU 53%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Low
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Low
  • HBCU
  • CU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • % White
  • CU 63%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 73%
  • % Asian
  • CU 1%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Black
  • CU 12%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU 3%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 2%
  • % Native American
  • CU 1%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU 0%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 0%
  • % International
  • CU 4%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU 16%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU 91%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU 8%
  • The University of Tennessee Southern 12%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No
  • Meal Plan
  • CU Yes
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CU No
  • The University of Tennessee Southern No

Comparable Facts

Compare Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN with The University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than The University of Tennessee Southern based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 1,046 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting); The University of Tennessee Southern is in Pulaski, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Southern is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cumberland University 19:1; The University of Tennessee Southern 14:1.

CU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU or The University of Tennessee Southern? 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 The University of Tennessee Southern than CU ($14,546 vs. $18,499).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Southern are 35.2% lower than at Cumberland University ($8,300 vs. $12,800).
  • Cumberland University is 154.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than The University of Tennessee Southern (about $16,916 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 154.9% higher at CU than at The University of Tennessee Southern (about $16,916 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,924.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at The University of Tennessee Southern (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 138.5% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Southern students ($24,703 vs. $10,358).

CU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU or The University of Tennessee Southern? 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 The University of Tennessee Southern and CU.

  • The University of Tennessee Southern reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe University of Tennessee Southern 905/1110.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe University of Tennessee Southern 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU - Test-free; The University of Tennessee Southern - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The University of Tennessee Southern Aug 26, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at The University of Tennessee Southern (3.17).
  • The University of Tennessee Southern has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at CU vs. 26.1% at The University of Tennessee Southern.

CU vs. The University of Tennessee Southern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU and The University of Tennessee Southern? 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).

  • The University of Tennessee Southern's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $586 lower median loan debt than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates ($21,729 vs. $22,315).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The University of Tennessee Southern graduates ($224 vs. $230).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of Tennessee Southern students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 43%)

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.