University of West Alabama vs. CU

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

University of West Alabama CU
Location Livingston, AL Lebanon, TN
Setting Remote Rural Distant Town
Enrollment 6,194 3,072
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1007
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uwa.edu cumberland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of West Alabama CU
Tuition (In State) $9,100 $26,640
Tuition (Out of State) $18,200 $26,640
Room & Board $8,166 $10,360
Avg Net Price $14,781 $17,669
Avg Grant Aid $7,790 $23,749
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

University of West Alabama CU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,041 2,788
Admitted 1,778 1,868
Acceptance Rate 87.1% 67%
Enrolled % 17.7% 36%
Avg High School GPA 3.16 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/22
SAT Range 820/978
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 10, 2025

Academics

University of West Alabama CU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (27%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Business (14%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

Outcomes

University of West Alabama CU
Graduation Rate 28% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,500 $39,900
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,489 $21,729
Median Loan Payment $273 $224

Diversity

University of West Alabama CU
% Men 13% 8%
% Women 44% 6%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 45% 63%
% Black 40% 12%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 16%

Students

University of West Alabama CU
% In-State 77% 88%
% Out-of-State 21% 8%

Campus

University of West Alabama CU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of West Alabama is larger than than CU based on total student enrollment (6,194 students vs. 3,072 students)

University of West Alabama vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of West Alabama or CU?

  • Cumberland University is 192.7% more expensive to attend than University of West Alabama for in-state tuition ($26,640.00 vs. $9,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.4% higher at CU than University of West Alabama ($26,640.00 vs. $18,200.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of West Alabama than CU ($14,781 vs. $17,669)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of West Alabama are 26.9% lower than costs at Cumberland University ($8,166 vs. $10,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Cumberland University than University of West Alabama (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 204.9% larger than aid received University of West Alabama ($23,749 vs. $7,790)

University of West Alabama vs. CU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cumberland University (989) is 59 points higher than at University of West Alabama (930)
  • Incoming CU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at University of West Alabama (20)
  • Accepted freshman CU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at University of West Alabama (3.16)
  • University of West Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than CU (67%)

University of West Alabama vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of West Alabama 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 University of West Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at CU is higher than University of West Alabama (34% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Cumberland University earn on average $1,400 more per year than University of West Alabama graduates after ten years. ($39,900 vs. $38,500)
  • Cumberland University students graduate with a $4,760 lower median federal student loan debt than University of West Alabama graduates. ($21,729 vs. $26,489)
  • CU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than University of West Alabama graduates. ($224 vs. $273)
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of West Alabama students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 36%)

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