KY State vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than KY State based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 2,020 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kentucky State University is located in Frankfort, KY (Distant Town setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Kentucky State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky State University 10:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

KY State vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KY State 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 Kentucky State University than CU ($9,397 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky State University are 32.1% lower than at Cumberland University ($8,686 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 196.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than KY State (about $18,453 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $9,387.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 103.8% higher at CU than at Kentucky State University (about $14,182 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $13,658.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Kentucky State University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 138.9% larger than aid received by Kentucky State University students ($24,703 vs. $10,340).

KY State vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KY State 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 KY State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky State University 820/1010.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky State University 14/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KY State - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at KY State (2.72).
• KY State has a higher acceptance rate (96.1%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27% at KY State vs. 40.5% at CU.

KY State vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KY State 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 Kentucky State University's (21%).
• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than KY State graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $31,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $7,271 lower median loan debt than KY State graduates ($21,729 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KY State graduates ($224 vs. $299).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KY State students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 24%)

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.