Faulkner vs. CU

Comparable Facts

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

Cumberland University is larger than Faulkner based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 3,086 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Faulkner University is located in Montgomery, AL (Midsize City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Faulkner University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Faulkner University 14:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Faulkner vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Faulkner 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 Cumberland University than Faulkner ($18,499 vs. $19,920).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Faulkner University are 34.8% lower than at Cumberland University ($8,350 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Faulkner (about $3,920 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $23,920.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.4% higher at CU than at Faulkner University (about $3,920 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $23,920.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Faulkner University (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 38.9% larger than aid received by Faulkner University students ($24,703 vs. $17,782).

Faulkner vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Faulkner 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 Faulkner.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Faulkner University 886/1135.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Faulkner University 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Faulkner - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Faulkner students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at CU (3.3).
• Faulkner has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.3% at Faulkner vs. 40.5% at CU.

Faulkner vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Faulkner 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 Faulkner University's (33%).
• Graduates from Faulkner University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $21 lower median loan debt than Faulkner graduates ($21,729 vs. $21,750).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Cumberland University and Faulkner 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 Faulkner students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 30%)

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.