CU vs. UTC

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (11,775 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting); The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is in Chattanooga, TN (Midsize City setting).
• Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cumberland University 19:1; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 18:1.

CU vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU or UTC? 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 Chattanooga than CU ($15,347 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga are 1.5% lower than at Cumberland University ($12,604 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 166.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UTC (about $17,392 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,448.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.4% higher at CU than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (about $9,328 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $18,512.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 146.1% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Chattanooga students ($24,703 vs. $10,038).

CU vs. UTC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe University of Tennessee Chattanooga 1013/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsThe University of Tennessee Chattanooga 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU - Test-free; UTC - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UTC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at CU (3.3).
• UTC has a higher acceptance rate (81.1%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at CU vs. 29.2% at UTC.

CU vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU and UTC? 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 Chattanooga's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from The University of Tennessee Chattanooga earn a median of about $700 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga graduates have a $937 lower median loan debt than CU graduates ($20,792 vs. $21,729).
• Among borrowers, UTC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU graduates ($214 vs. $224).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)

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.