Marian vs. CU

Comparable Facts

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

Marian University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (3,486 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marian University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marian University 13:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Marian vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian 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 Marian ($18,499 vs. $22,786).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 7.6% lower than at Marian University ($12,800 vs. $13,850).
• Marian University is 46.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $12,824 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.1% higher at Marian than at Cumberland University (about $12,824 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Marian University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 31% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($32,351 vs. $24,703).

Marian vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marian 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 Marian.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marian - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at CU (3.3).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Marian vs. 40.5% at CU.

Marian vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marian 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).

• Marian University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Marian University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $5,271 lower median loan debt than Marian graduates ($21,729 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marian graduates ($224 vs. $279).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

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.