CU vs. Memphis

Comparable Facts

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

University of Memphis is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (20,276 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting); University of Memphis is in Memphis, TN (Large City setting).
• Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Memphis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cumberland University 19:1; University of Memphis 16:1.

CU vs. Memphis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU or Memphis? 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 University of Memphis than CU ($12,756 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 11.4% lower than at Cumberland University ($11,342 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 159.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Memphis (about $17,112 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,728.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 81% higher at CU than at University of Memphis (about $12,456 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $15,384.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at University of Memphis (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 109.5% larger than aid received by University of Memphis students ($24,703 vs. $11,793).

CU vs. Memphis Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Memphis 915/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Memphis 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU - Test-free; Memphis - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Memphis Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Memphis students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at CU (3.3).
• Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at CU vs. 18.1% at Memphis.

CU vs. Memphis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU and Memphis? 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).

• University of Memphis's six-year graduation rate (38%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from University of Memphis earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $3,521 lower median loan debt than Memphis graduates ($21,729 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Memphis graduates ($224 vs. $261).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.