Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Cumberland University #807 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,488 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cumberland University in the 51.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Cumberland University sits in the 38.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Cumberland University's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates see meaningful financial outcomes that place the institution above many peers in its cohort.
Azimuth ranks Cumberland University #807 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Lebanon, Tennessee, Cumberland University enrolls roughly 2,104 undergraduates. Retention stands at 59.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 45.6%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where Cumberland University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Cumberland University #904 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,091, and Cumberland University sits in the 51.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business, a field that typically delivers strong early-career financial outcomes and aligns with employer demand in the Southeast and beyond. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Cumberland University sits in the 54.1 percentile for access and the 74.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 30.3% Pell-eligible students and 40.8% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial need. For families weighing net price and debt outcomes, Financial GPS tool provides personalized affordability scenarios by major and earnings pathway.
Cumberland University's published cost of attendance is $43,358. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,882, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $18,048, middle-income families pay about $19,609, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $20,333, and higher-income families pay roughly $20,917. Azimuth ranks Cumberland University #358 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Cumberland University participates in federal need-based aid programs and offers institutional scholarships to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution applies a need-based aid model, with financial aid packages determined through the FAFSA. Families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid policies and application procedures. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,952, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,116; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,091, median federal debt of $17,952 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Cumberland University is a good fit for students seeking a private nonprofit university experience in TN with a focus on Business and related fields. Azimuth ranks Cumberland University #807 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,091, placing Cumberland University in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $1,488 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cumberland University in the 51.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 30.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.8% are first-generation — and delivers completion outcomes for Pell recipients that place Cumberland University in the 54.0% percentile for Pell completion rates among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 67.3% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields — students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Cumberland University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
65 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
47 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
8 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
19 graduates
Psychology, General
14 graduates
Cumberland University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied, career-focused identity. Nursing is the largest program with 65 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Kinesiology, Criminal Justice, and Psychology, General.
The dominant program family, Business, accounts for a substantial share of degrees across 14 total programs, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $78,954 four years after enrollment across 65 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $60,477 and 8 graduates. Accounting delivers $51,366 for 8 graduates, while Criminal Justice and Psychology, General round out the higher-earning programs with $51,032 and $42,713 respectively.
This pattern reflects Cumberland University's positioning as a professional-oriented private institution where business and applied-career pathways dominate the degree portfolio. Most of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional and national labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Cumberland University's dominant program families align with current labor-market demand and wage-growth trends in professional and business sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Belmont University Higher acceptance rate (29.4 percentage points higher) and located 28 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 96% | $55,930 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee-Chattanooga Higher acceptance rate (10 percentage points higher) and located 98 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 77% | $51,151 | Compare |
Samford University Higher acceptance rate (15.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | AL | 82% | $58,469 | Compare |
Shenandoah University Higher acceptance rate (10.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 78% | $58,433 | Compare |
Belmont University Same state (28 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | TN | 96% | $55,930 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Immaculata University Similar quality tier (#25366 ranked) | PA | 86% | $75,701 | #25366 | Compare |
Ottawa University-Ottawa Similar quality tier (#24854 ranked) | KS | 83% | $55,552 | #24854 | Compare |
Hanover College Similar quality tier (#25905 ranked) | IN | 84% | $53,957 | #25905 | Compare |
Georgian Court University Similar quality tier (#25906 ranked) | NJ | 79% | $53,096 | #25906 | Compare |
Saint Mary's College Of California Similar quality tier (#25907 ranked) | CA | 87% | $78,812 | #25907 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Cumberland University's published cost of attendance is $43,358. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,882, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $18,048, middle-income families pay about $19,609, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $20,333, and higher-income families pay roughly $20,917.
Azimuth ranks Cumberland University #358 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Cumberland University participates in federal need-based aid programs and offers institutional scholarships to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution applies a need-based aid model, with financial aid packages determined through the FAFSA.
Families should review the institution's [financial aid page](https://www.cumberland.edu/admission/financial-aid/) for current aid policies and application procedures. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $17,952, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,116; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,091, median federal debt of $17,952 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Cumberland University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,091, placing the institution in the 33.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,488 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cumberland University in the 51.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Cumberland University #904 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on Business, which anchors the institution's economic profile.
Nursing is the largest program with 65 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $78,954, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 47 students with median 4-year earnings of $60,477, at 0.9x benchmark.
Kinesiology and Criminal Justice round out the largest cohorts, with Criminal Justice graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,032 at 0.9x benchmark. The Psychology, General program graduates 14 students earning median 4-year earnings of $42,713, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
This concentration in Business and related fields reflects Cumberland University's focused academic portfolio and direct alignment with employer demand in the region.
