Union Commonwealth University vs. CU

Deciding between Union Commonwealth 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.

Union Commonwealth University
Cumberland University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Union Commonwealth University Barbourville, KY
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Union Commonwealth University Remote Town
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Union Commonwealth University 1,324
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Union Commonwealth University Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Union Commonwealth University #989
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Union Commonwealth University United Methodist
  • CU -
  • Status
  • Union Commonwealth University Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Union Commonwealth University
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Union Commonwealth University $30,946
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Union Commonwealth University $30,946
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • Union Commonwealth University $8,261
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Union Commonwealth University $17,124
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Union Commonwealth University $26,961
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Union Commonwealth University 100%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Union Commonwealth University 996
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Union Commonwealth University 629
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Union Commonwealth University 63.2%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Union Commonwealth University 38.8%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Union Commonwealth University 1010
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Union Commonwealth University 17
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • Union Commonwealth University 3.15
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Union Commonwealth University B+
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Union Commonwealth University Extremely Easy
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Union Commonwealth University Low
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Union Commonwealth University 14/21
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • Union Commonwealth University 920/1105
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Union Commonwealth University Test optional
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Union Commonwealth University
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Union Commonwealth University 14:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Union Commonwealth University
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (24%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Union Commonwealth University 32%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Union Commonwealth University $34,800
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Union Commonwealth University 42%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Union Commonwealth University $24,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Union Commonwealth University $248
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Union Commonwealth University 61%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • Union Commonwealth University 39%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Union Commonwealth University Medium
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • Union Commonwealth University No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • Union Commonwealth University 72%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • Union Commonwealth University 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • Union Commonwealth University 12%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Union Commonwealth University 2%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Union Commonwealth University 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Union Commonwealth University 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Union Commonwealth University 5%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • Union Commonwealth University 8%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Union Commonwealth University 1%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Union Commonwealth University 44%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Union Commonwealth University 36%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Union Commonwealth University in Barbourville, 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 Union Commonwealth University based on total student enrollment (3,457 students vs. 1,324 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Union Commonwealth University is located in Barbourville, KY (Remote Town setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Union Commonwealth University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Union Commonwealth University 14:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Union Commonwealth University vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union Commonwealth 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 Union Commonwealth University than CU ($17,124 vs. $18,499).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union Commonwealth University are 35.5% lower than at Cumberland University ($8,261 vs. $12,800).
  • Union Commonwealth University is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $3,106 more per year; $30,946.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at Union Commonwealth University than at Cumberland University (about $3,106 more per year; $30,946.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Union Commonwealth University as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union Commonwealth University students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($26,961 vs. $24,703).

Union Commonwealth University vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union Commonwealth 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 Union Commonwealth University.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union Commonwealth University 920/1105.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union Commonwealth University 14/21.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union Commonwealth University - Test optional; CU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Union Commonwealth University (3.15).
  • CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than Union Commonwealth University (63.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Union Commonwealth University vs. 40.5% at CU.

Union Commonwealth University vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Union Commonwealth 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).

  • Cumberland University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Union Commonwealth University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Union Commonwealth University graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $34,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $2,271 lower median loan debt than Union Commonwealth University graduates ($21,729 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Union Commonwealth University graduates ($224 vs. $248).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Union Commonwealth University students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 42%)

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.