Paine College vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Paine College in Augusta, GA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cumberland University is larger than Paine College based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 390 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paine College is located in Augusta, GA (Midsize City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Paine College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paine College 11:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Paine College vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paine College 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 Paine College than CU ($15,935 vs. $18,499).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paine College are 41.3% lower than at Cumberland University ($7,512 vs. $12,800).
• Cumberland University is 90.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paine College (about $13,244 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $14,596.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.7% higher at CU than at Paine College (about $13,244 more per year; $27,840.00 vs. $14,596.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Paine College as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 103.4% larger than aid received by Paine College students ($24,703 vs. $12,145).

Paine College vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paine College 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 Paine College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Paine College 776/976.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Paine College 15/19.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paine College - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Paine College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Paine College (2.81).
• Paine College has a higher acceptance rate (95.4%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.6% at Paine College vs. 40.5% at CU.

Paine College vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paine College 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 Paine College's (27%).
• Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Paine College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $28,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $14,021 lower median loan debt than Paine College graduates ($21,729 vs. $35,750).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Paine College graduates ($224 vs. $369).
• More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paine College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 15%)

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.