WPI vs. CU

Deciding between Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Cumberland University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WPI Worcester, MA
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • WPI Midsize City
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • WPI 7,584
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • WPI Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WPI
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WPI -
  • CU -
  • Status
  • WPI Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WPI
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • WPI $18,386
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • WPI $47,372
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WPI $31,545
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WPI 100%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WPI 12,559
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • WPI 7,555
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WPI 60.2%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • WPI 18.1%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WPI
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • WPI
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • WPI 3.9
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WPI A
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • WPI Unavailable
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • WPI Low
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • WPI
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • WPI
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WPI Test-free
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • WPI Feb 15, 2027
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WPI 13:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WPI
    • Engineering (61%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Business (4%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WPI 76%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WPI $82,700
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WPI 92%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WPI $27,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WPI $279
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WPI 68%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • WPI 32%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WPI Medium
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • WPI No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • WPI 63%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • WPI 5%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • WPI 2%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • WPI 8%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • WPI 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WPI 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WPI 3%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • WPI 12%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WPI 6%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WPI 48%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WPI 48%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

WPI vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 Cumberland University than WPI ($18,499 vs. $47,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 30.4% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($12,800 vs. $18,386).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 119% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $33,125 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 119% higher at WPI than at Cumberland University (about $33,125 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($31,545 vs. $24,703).

WPI vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.6 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at CU (3.3).
  • CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than WPI (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 40.5% at CU.

WPI vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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).

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $42,800 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $5,271 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($21,729 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($224 vs. $279).
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 60%)

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.