Cumberland College vs. Catawba College

Should I go to University of the Cumberlands or Catawba College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cumberland College or Catawba College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of the Cumberlands vs. Catawba College comparison
University of the Cumberlands Catawba College College 3 College 4
University of the Cumberlands Catawba College
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Overview

Cumberland College Catawba College
Location Williamsburg, KY Salisbury, NC
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 18,053 1,172
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #952 #515
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucumberlands.edu catawba.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cumberland College Catawba College
Tuition (In State) $9,875 $32,868
Tuition (Out of State) $9,875 $32,868
Room & Board $9,300 $11,576
Avg Net Price $14,337 $19,701
Avg Grant Aid $9,822 $26,913
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Cumberland College Catawba College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,314 3,199
Admitted 1,921 2,146
Acceptance Rate 83% 67.1%
Enrolled % 33.3% 13.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.64
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 18/27
SAT Range 960/1160 1000/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 31, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Cumberland College Catawba College
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Cumberland College Catawba College
Graduation Rate 43% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,956 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $144 $258

Diversity

Cumberland College Catawba College
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 69%
% Black 6% 19%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 10% 0%

Students

Cumberland College Catawba College
% In-State 65% 61%
% Out-of-State 28% 34%

Campus

Cumberland College Catawba College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of the Cumberlands is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (18,053 students vs. 1,172 students)

Cumberland College vs. Catawba College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cumberland College or Catawba College?

  • Catawba College is 232.8% more expensive to attend than Cumberland College for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 232.8% higher at Catawba College than University of the Cumberlands ($32,868.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the Cumberlands than Catawba College ($14,337 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Cumberlands are 24.5% lower than costs at Catawba College ($9,300 vs. $11,576)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College than University of the Cumberlands (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 174% larger than aid received University of the Cumberlands ($26,913 vs. $9,822)

Cumberland College vs. Catawba College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cumberland College or Catawba College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Catawba College or Cumberland College .

  • The average SAT score at University of the Cumberlands (1022) is 32 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming Cumberland College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Cumberland College (3.47)
  • Cumberland College has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Cumberland College vs. Catawba College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cumberland College or Catawba College? 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 Catawba College and Cumberland College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than University of the Cumberlands (54% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $5,300 more per year than Cumberland College graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $36,700)
  • University of the Cumberlands students graduate with a $11,044 lower median federal student loan debt than Catawba College graduates. ($13,956 vs. $25,000)
  • Cumberland College graduates are paying $114 less per month on federal student loans than Catawba College graduates. ($144 vs. $258)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cumberland College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/