Cumberland College vs. Murray State University

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

Cumberland College Murray State University
Location Williamsburg, KY Murray, KY
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 18,053 9,479
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #952 #669
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucumberlands.edu murraystate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cumberland College Murray State University
Tuition (In State) $9,875 $8,196
Tuition (Out of State) $9,875 $17,652
Room & Board $9,300 $10,160
Avg Net Price $14,337 $11,042
Avg Grant Aid $9,822 $11,560
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Cumberland College Murray State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,314 10,251
Admitted 1,921 8,609
Acceptance Rate 83% 84%
Enrolled % 33.3% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.47 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23 19/26
SAT Range 960/1160 965/1190
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 Murray State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Cumberland College Murray State University
Graduation Rate 43% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,700 $40,400
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,956 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $144 $222

Diversity

Cumberland College Murray State University
% Men 46% 37%
% Women 54% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 81%
% Black 6% 8%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 10% 2%

Students

Cumberland College Murray State University
% In-State 65% 61%
% Out-of-State 28% 36%

Campus

Cumberland College Murray State University
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 Murray State University based on total student enrollment (18,053 students vs. 9,479 students)

Cumberland College vs. Murray State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cumberland College or Murray State University?

  • University of the Cumberlands is 20.5% more expensive to attend than Murray State University for in-state tuition ($9,875.00 vs. $8,196.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 78.8% higher at Murray State University than University of the Cumberlands ($17,652.00 vs. $9,875.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Murray State University than Cumberland College ($11,042 vs. $14,337)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Cumberlands are 9.2% lower than costs at Murray State University ($9,300 vs. $10,160)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Murray State University than University of the Cumberlands (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Murray State University students is 17.7% larger than aid received University of the Cumberlands ($11,560 vs. $9,822)

Cumberland College vs. Murray State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Murray State University (1069) is 47 points higher than at Cumberland College (1022)
  • Incoming Murray State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Cumberland College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Murray State University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Cumberland College (3.47)
  • Murray State University has a higher acceptance rate (84%) than Cumberland College (83%)

Cumberland College vs. Murray State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cumberland College or Murray State University? 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 Murray State University and Cumberland College.

  • The graduation rate at Murray State University is higher than University of the Cumberlands (52% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Murray State University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Cumberland College graduates after ten years. ($40,400 vs. $36,700)
  • University of the Cumberlands students graduate with a $7,544 lower median federal student loan debt than Murray State University graduates. ($13,956 vs. $21,500)
  • Cumberland College graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Murray State University graduates. ($144 vs. $222)
  • More Murray State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cumberland College students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 52%)

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