KWC vs. CU

Deciding between Kentucky Wesleyan College and Cumberland University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kentucky Wesleyan College
Cumberland University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • KWC Owensboro, KY
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • KWC Small City
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • KWC 887
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • KWC Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • KWC
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • KWC United Methodist
  • CU -
  • Status
  • KWC Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • KWC
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • KWC $34,673
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • KWC $11,855
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • KWC $20,999
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • KWC $25,538
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • KWC 100%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • KWC 2,113
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • KWC 1,513
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • KWC 71.6%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • KWC 17.7%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • KWC 1010
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • KWC 19
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • KWC 3.3
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • KWC B+
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • KWC Extremely Easy
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • KWC Low
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • KWC 16/23
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • KWC 890/1130
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • KWC Test optional
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • KWC
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • KWC 15:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • KWC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • KWC 44%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • KWC $38,500
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • KWC 54%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • KWC $22,907
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • KWC $236
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • KWC 50%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • KWC 50%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • KWC Low
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • KWC No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • KWC 73%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • KWC 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • KWC 15%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • KWC 1%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • KWC 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • KWC 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • KWC 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • KWC 0%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • KWC 9%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • KWC 56%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • KWC 38%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • KWC Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • KWC No
  • CU No
  • Meal Plan
  • KWC Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • KWC No
  • CU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • KWC No
  • CU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, 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 KWC based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 887 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is located in Owensboro, KY (Small City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kentucky Wesleyan College 15:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

KWC vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KWC 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 KWC ($18,499 vs. $20,999).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kentucky Wesleyan College are 7.4% lower than at Cumberland University ($11,855 vs. $12,800).
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College is 24.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $6,833 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.5% higher at KWC than at Cumberland University (about $6,833 more per year; $34,673.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Kentucky Wesleyan College as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kentucky Wesleyan College students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($25,538 vs. $24,703).

KWC vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KWC 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 KWC.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky Wesleyan College 890/1130.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kentucky Wesleyan College 16/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: KWC - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman KWC students have the same average high school GPA (3.3) as students at CU (3.3).
  • KWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.6%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at KWC vs. 40.5% at CU.

KWC vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for KWC 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).

  • Kentucky Wesleyan College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than KWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $38,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $1,178 lower median loan debt than KWC graduates ($21,729 vs. $22,907).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KWC graduates ($224 vs. $236).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KWC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

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.