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Reinhardt University Campbellsville University Middle Tennessee State University Truett-McConnell College Tennessee State University KSU Belmont Vanderbilt Martin Methodist College Berry College Tusculum College| Shorter University | Cumberland University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Shorter | CU | ||
| Location | Rome, GA | Lebanon, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 1,447 | 3,072 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #977 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shorter.edu | cumberland.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Shorter | CU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $23,514 | $26,640 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,514 | $26,640 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,784 | $10,360 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,692 | $17,669 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,168 | $23,749 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Shorter | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 783 | 2,788 | ||
| Admitted | 759 | 1,868 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96.9% | 67% | ||
| Enrolled % | 35.4% | 36% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.25 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | |||
| SAT Range | 900/1130 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 25, 2025 |
Academics |
Shorter | CU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Shorter | CU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 47% | 34% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,300 | $39,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 38% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $28,418 | $21,729 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $293 | $224 |
Diversity |
Shorter | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 24% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 16% |
Students |
Shorter | CU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 81% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Shorter | CU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Cumberland University is larger than than Shorter based on total student enrollment (3,072 students vs. 1,447 students)
Shorter vs. CU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Shorter or CU?
- Cumberland University is 13.3% more expensive to attend than Shorter for in-state tuition ($26,640.00 vs. $23,514.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.3% higher at CU than Shorter University ($26,640.00 vs. $23,514.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shorter University than CU ($16,692 vs. $17,669)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shorter University are 5.9% lower than costs at Cumberland University ($9,784 vs. $10,360)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Shorter University as Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 30.7% larger than aid received Shorter University ($23,749 vs. $18,168)
Shorter vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Shorter or CU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CU or Shorter .
- The average SAT score at Cumberland University (989) is 20 points higher than at Shorter (969)
- Incoming Shorter students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at CU (21)
- Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Shorter (3.25)
- Shorter has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than CU (67%)
Shorter vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Shorter or CU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CU and Shorter.
- The graduation rate at Shorter is higher than Cumberland University (47% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Shorter University earn on average $9,400 more per year than CU graduates after ten years. ($49,300 vs. $39,900)
- Cumberland University students graduate with a $6,689 lower median federal student loan debt than Shorter graduates. ($21,729 vs. $28,418)
- CU graduates are paying $69 less per month on federal student loans than Shorter graduates. ($224 vs. $293)
- More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shorter students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/