Mars Hill University vs. CU

Deciding between Mars Hill University 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.

Mars Hill University
Cumberland University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mars Hill University Mars Hill, NC
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Mars Hill University Rural Fringe
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Mars Hill University 1,110
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Mars Hill University Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mars Hill University -
  • CU -
  • Status
  • Mars Hill University Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mars Hill University $37,736
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mars Hill University $37,736
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • Mars Hill University $12,258
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Mars Hill University $18,925
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mars Hill University $31,066
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mars Hill University 100%
  • CU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mars Hill University 1,642
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Mars Hill University 1,115
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mars Hill University 67.9%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Mars Hill University 31.1%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mars Hill University 3.5
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mars Hill University A-
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mars Hill University Unavailable
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mars Hill University Low
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mars Hill University Test-free
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Mars Hill University
  • CU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mars Hill University 11:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mars Hill University
    • Business (25%)
    • Education (22%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mars Hill University 38%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mars Hill University $32,300
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mars Hill University 53%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mars Hill University $27,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mars Hill University $279
  • CU $224
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mars Hill University 50%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • Mars Hill University 50%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mars Hill University Medium
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • Mars Hill University No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • Mars Hill University 68%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • Mars Hill University 1%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • Mars Hill University 22%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mars Hill University 3%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Mars Hill University 1%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mars Hill University 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mars Hill University 1%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • Mars Hill University 0%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mars Hill University 3%
  • CU 16%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mars Hill University 51%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mars Hill University 41%
  • CU 8%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 1,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mars Hill University is located in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mars Hill University 11:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Mars Hill University vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mars Hill University 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 Mars Hill University ($18,499 vs. $18,925).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 4.2% lower than at Cumberland University ($12,258 vs. $12,800).
  • Mars Hill University is 35.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $9,896 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.5% higher at Mars Hill University than at Cumberland University (about $9,896 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 25.8% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($31,066 vs. $24,703).

Mars Hill University vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mars Hill University 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 Mars Hill University.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mars Hill University - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CU (3.3).
  • Mars Hill University has a higher acceptance rate (67.9%) than CU (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at Mars Hill University vs. 40.5% at CU.

Mars Hill University vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mars Hill University 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).

  • Mars Hill University's six-year graduation rate (38%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $5,271 lower median loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates ($21,729 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mars Hill University graduates ($224 vs. $279).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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.