Cumberland University
Lebanon, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 67.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Cumberland University scores 62 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale, with a 45.6% completion rate dragging down what would otherwise be a moderate outcome. Average 6-year earnings are $37,200 and payback is 9.5 years. Median debt is $17,952, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.483. Registered Nursing (61 graduates) anchors the program portfolio at $67,094 first-year earnings. The completion rate of 45.6% is the primary risk: roughly half of enrolled students do not graduate.
Cumberland University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,840/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,840/yr |
| Average net price | $18,759/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $75,036 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,687 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,952 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $190 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 45.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,104 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $27,840/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,759/year, or roughly $75,036 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,882/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,917/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,952, which works out to about $190 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,200) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,882 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,048 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,609 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,333 |
| $110,001+ | $20,917 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $17,882 net per year at Cumberland - moderate in absolute terms but high relative to the $37,200 average 6-year earnings. The 45.6% completion rate means there is roughly even odds that a low-income student who enrolls will accumulate debt without graduating. Students in this bracket should investigate nursing program admissions specifically; the financial case is strongest for nursing and weakest for general studies or undeclared pathways.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $19,609 per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $20,333. The pricing is relatively flat across income ranges, reflecting limited institutional aid differentiation. At $18,759-$20,333 per year against $37,200 average earnings, the 9.5-year payback assumes completion. Middle-income families should strongly verify that their student will have access to a program with strong employment outcomes before committing to Cumberland's pricing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $20,917 per year - about $84,000 over four years. The flat pricing across income brackets means Cumberland's financial model does not substantially penalize higher-income families. At $37,200 average earnings, the return on $84,000 in four-year cost is mediocre.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Cumberland University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $78,954 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,477 | C+ |
| Accounting | $51,366 | - |
| Psychology | $42,713 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,032 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $23,264 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $41,369 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Cumberland's strongest program and primary earnings driver: 61 graduates, $67,094 first-year earnings, $78,954 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.436 (ROI grade B). This is the program that makes the most clear financial case at Cumberland.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Cumberland's largest non-nursing program at 44 graduates, with $35,538 first-year earnings, $60,477 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.543 (ROI grade C+). The year-one figure is weak - Nashville's cost of living against $35,538 starting earnings is tight - but the four-year jump to $60,477 reflects career progression in the Nashville market. Median debt of $19,297 is relatively low. Students planning to enter Nashville's growing finance, healthcare administration, or tech sectors have access to a significant employer base, but Cumberland's brand recognition in those markets is limited.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (16 graduates) earns $45,223 first-year and $51,032 at four years, with no ROI grade computed due to missing debt data. These earnings reflect entry-level criminal justice and law enforcement wages in Tennessee, which are modest but stable.
Psychology
Psychology (21 graduates) earns $27,023 first-year and $42,713 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.830 (ROI grade D) and $22,437 median debt. These are poor outcomes relative to the $18,759 net price - the annual cost approaches or exceeds the year-one salary for many psychology graduates. As at most small private institutions, psychology bachelor's graduates at Cumberland who are not planning graduate school face a significant mismatch between cost and early earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 62.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Cumberland University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 67.3% |
| Enrollment | 2,104 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,114 |
Cumberland's 67.3% acceptance rate makes it accessible but not open-access. No test score data is published, which limits comparison. The school is designed for a regional Tennessee student population; the Nashville proximity creates both a strength (job access) and a challenge (students often transfer or leave for the metro workforce before completing).
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland University (this school) | 62 | $18,759 | $57,687 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | 64 | $29,822 | $67,725 |
| Northwood University | 63 | $27,232 | $63,075 |
| Augustana University | 63 | $23,894 | $59,217 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
Who Thrives Here
Cumberland admits 67.3% of applicants (no SAT/ACT data available) at a small campus of 2,104 students. The 30.3% Pell grant rate reflects a moderately low-income student body. The school fits students who want a small private college experience within driving distance of Nashville's labor market, particularly those targeting nursing or business careers. It is not a strong fit for students who are not clearly committed to a specific program - the 45.6% completion rate reflects the reality that many students who enroll do not persist, and the liberal arts general degree options (including Liberal Arts at an ROI grade of F) produce very poor outcomes.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Cumberland University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,759 a year after aid ($75,036 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,687 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 45.6% graduation rate.
Median debt of $17,952 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Cumberland University: Common Questions
Is Cumberland University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Cumberland University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,759 a year after aid ($75,036 over four years) against $57,687 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Cumberland University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,759 a year, or roughly $75,036 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Cumberland University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,687 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,887 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Cumberland University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.5 years for Cumberland University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Cumberland University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,952, against average earnings of $37,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Cumberland University?
The six-year graduation rate is 45.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.