Columbia College vs. CU

Columbia College and Cumberland University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Columbia College
Cumberland University

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: CU. Average net price is $18,499 vs $21,530 at Columbia College.
  • Graduation: Columbia College 39% vs CU 34%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Columbia College $41,800 vs CU $39,900 (median).
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Key differences

Columbia College Cumberland University
Acceptance rate
CU more selective
Columbia College-
CU67.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Columbia College-
CU-
Average net price
CU $3,031 less
Columbia College$21,530
CU$18,499
In-state tuition
Columbia College $2,014 less
Columbia College$25,826
CU$27,840
Out-of-state tuition
Columbia College $2,014 less
Columbia College$25,826
CU$27,840
Graduation rate
Columbia College +5 pts
Columbia College39%
CU34%
Median earnings (10 years)
Columbia College +$1,900
Columbia College$41,800
CU$39,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Columbia College -
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • Columbia College -
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance rate
  • Columbia College Open
  • CU 67.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Columbia College Open
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Average high school GPA
  • Columbia College 3.59
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical high school grades
  • Columbia College A-
  • CU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Columbia College Unavailable
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Columbia College
  • CU Low
  • SAT range
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • ACT range
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Submit test scores
  • Columbia College Open admission
  • CU Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Columbia College
  • CU
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Columbia College $25,826
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & board
  • Columbia College $9,552
  • CU $12,800
  • Average net price
  • Columbia College $21,530
  • CU $18,499
  • Average grant aid
  • Columbia College $15,882
  • CU $24,703
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Columbia College 91%
  • CU 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Columbia College 39%
  • CU 34%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Columbia College $41,800
  • CU $39,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Columbia College 40%
  • CU 60%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Columbia College $22,034
  • CU $21,729
  • Median loan payment
  • Columbia College $227
  • CU $224
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Columbia College 20:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Columbia College
    • Business (42%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Human Services (4%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)
  • Location
  • Columbia College Columbia, MO
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • Columbia College Midsize City
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Columbia College 5,689
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • Columbia College Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Columbia College
  • CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia College in Columbia, MO with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Columbia College is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (5,689 students vs. 3,457 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Columbia College is located in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia College 20:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 25.4% lower than at Cumberland University ($9,552 vs. $12,800).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at CU than at Columbia College (about $2,014 more per year; $27,840 vs. $25,826).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Columbia College (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 55.5% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($24,703 vs. $15,882).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at Columbia College, test-free at CU.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Columbia College average a 3.59 high school GPA, 0.29 higher than at CU (3.3).

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $305 lower median loan debt than Columbia College graduates ($21,729 vs. $22,034).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Columbia College graduates ($224 vs. $227).
  • More CU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation (60% vs. 40%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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