USD vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

USD vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD 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 USD ($18,499 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 35.7% lower than at University of San Diego ($12,800 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 113.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $31,646 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 113.7% higher at USD than at Cumberland University (about $31,646 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 65.8% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($40,965 vs. $24,703).

USD vs. CU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD 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 USD.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at CU (3.3).
• CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 40.5% at CU.

USD vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $30,300 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $1,175 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($21,729 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($224 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.