CU vs. Middle Tennessee State University

Comparable Facts

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

Middle Tennessee State University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (20,488 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting); Middle Tennessee State University is in Murfreesboro, TN (Midsize City setting).
• Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middle Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cumberland University 19:1; Middle Tennessee State University 17:1.

CU vs. Middle Tennessee State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU or Middle Tennessee State University? 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 Middle Tennessee State University than CU ($13,859 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Middle Tennessee State University are 4.4% lower than at Cumberland University ($12,242 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 171.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Middle Tennessee State University (about $17,574 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,266.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Middle Tennessee State University than at Cumberland University (about $3,734 more per year; $31,574.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Middle Tennessee State University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 131.6% larger than aid received by Middle Tennessee State University students ($24,703 vs. $10,665).

CU vs. Middle Tennessee State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU or Middle Tennessee State University? 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 Middle Tennessee State University and CU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMiddle Tennessee State University 1010/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMiddle Tennessee State University 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU - Test-free; Middle Tennessee State University - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Middle Tennessee State University Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Middle Tennessee State University students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at CU (3.3).
• Middle Tennessee State University has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at CU vs. 30.4% at Middle Tennessee State University.

CU vs. Middle Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU and Middle Tennessee State University? 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).

• Middle Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,300 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $29 lower median loan debt than Middle Tennessee State University graduates ($21,729 vs. $21,758).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Middle Tennessee State University and CU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($224 vs. $224).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Middle Tennessee State University 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.