Cumberland College vs. GWU

Should I go to University of the Cumberlands or Gardner Webb University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cumberland College or GWU 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. Gardner Webb University comparison
University of the Cumberlands Gardner Webb University College 3 College 4
University of the Cumberlands Gardner Webb University
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Overview

Cumberland College GWU
Location Williamsburg, KY Boiling Springs, NC
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 18,053 3,144
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #952 #639
Religious Affiliation Baptist Southern Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucumberlands.edu gardner-webb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cumberland College GWU
Tuition (In State) $9,875 $31,220
Tuition (Out of State) $9,875 $31,220
Room & Board $9,300 $10,770
Avg Net Price $14,337 $22,339
Avg Grant Aid $9,822 $24,130
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Cumberland College GWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,314 5,728
Admitted 1,921 4,293
Acceptance Rate 83% 74.9%
Enrolled % 33.3% 9.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.74
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 20/25
SAT Range 960/1160 1020/1210
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

Academics

Cumberland College GWU
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 (30%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)

Outcomes

Cumberland College GWU
Graduation Rate 43% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $40,500
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,956 $24,969
Median Loan Payment $144 $258

Diversity

Cumberland College GWU
% Men 46% 32%
% Women 54% 68%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 67%
% Black 6% 17%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 10% 10%

Students

Cumberland College GWU
% In-State 65% 54%
% Out-of-State 28% 41%

Campus

Cumberland College GWU
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 GWU based on total student enrollment (18,053 students vs. 3,144 students)

Cumberland College vs. GWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cumberland College or GWU?

  • Gardner Webb University is 216.2% more expensive to attend than Cumberland College for in-state tuition ($31,220.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 216.2% higher at GWU than University of the Cumberlands ($31,220.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the Cumberlands than GWU ($14,337 vs. $22,339)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Cumberlands are 15.8% lower than costs at Gardner Webb University ($9,300 vs. $10,770)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gardner Webb University than University of the Cumberlands (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gardner Webb University students is 145.7% larger than aid received University of the Cumberlands ($24,130 vs. $9,822)

Cumberland College vs. GWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of the Cumberlands (1022) is 45 points higher than at GWU (977)
  • Incoming Cumberland College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at GWU (21)
  • Accepted freshman GWU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Cumberland College (3.47)
  • Cumberland College has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than GWU (74.9%)

Cumberland College vs. GWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at GWU is higher than University of the Cumberlands (55% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Gardner Webb University earn on average $3,800 more per year than Cumberland College graduates after ten years. ($40,500 vs. $36,700)
  • University of the Cumberlands students graduate with a $11,013 lower median federal student loan debt than GWU graduates. ($13,956 vs. $24,969)
  • Cumberland College graduates are paying $114 less per month on federal student loans than GWU graduates. ($144 vs. $258)
  • More Cumberland College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GWU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 52%)

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