DSC vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Dalton State College in Dalton, GA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dalton State College is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (5,135 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dalton State College is located in Dalton, GA (Small City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dalton State College 21:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

DSC vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DSC or CU? 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 Dalton State College than CU ($5,625 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dalton State College are 18.6% lower than at Cumberland University ($10,419 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 734.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSC (about $24,504 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $3,336.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 161.3% higher at CU than at Dalton State College (about $17,184 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $10,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Dalton State College (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 271.3% larger than aid received by Dalton State College students ($24,703 vs. $6,654).

DSC vs. CU Admissions comparison

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

• Dalton State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DSC - Open admission; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at DSC (3.1).

DSC vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DSC and CU? 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).

• Cumberland University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Dalton State College's (16%).
• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dalton State College graduates have a $6,842 lower median loan debt than CU graduates ($14,887 vs. $21,729).
• Among borrowers, DSC graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU graduates ($153 vs. $224).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 42%)

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.