Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $43,358. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $27,840 |
| Housing & meals | $10,360 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 |
| Personal & travel | $5,340 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,382 |
| Total cost of attendance | $43,358 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
CU net price compared with other Tennessee colleges
CU has the 18th-lowest average net price of 37 Tennessee colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tennessee State University | $15,796 | 34% | $42,730 |
| 15 | Vanderbilt University | $15,846 | 94% | $91,565 |
| 16 | East Tennessee State University | $15,983 | 53% | $44,859 |
| 17 | Trevecca Nazarene University | $16,813 | 53% | $49,378 |
| 18 | Cumberland University | $18,759 | 46% | $57,687 |
| 19 | Lee University | $18,878 | 63% | $43,222 |
| 20 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $18,976 | 74% | $60,249 |
| 21 | Maryville College | $19,360 | 50% | $49,279 |
| 22 | Carson-Newman University | $20,251 | 53% | $48,382 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Tennessee colleges →
Why CU costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland University | 67% | $18,759 | 46% | $57,687 | This school |
| Southern Adventist University | 66% | $24,345 | 49% | $53,723 | |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 69% | $16,813 | 53% | $49,378 | |
| Lincoln Memorial University | 63% | $20,406 | 50% | $49,956 | |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | 69% | $14,836 | 48% | $45,989 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Cumberland University would cost you $5,586 less per year than Southern Adventist University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at Cumberland University, mostly from higher housing & meal costs (+$1,900).
- Cumberland University gives aided families $10,326 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Tennessee resident | CU | Southern Adventist University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $27,840 | $27,300 | +$540 |
| Books & supplies | $1,200 | $1,100 | +$100 |
| Housing & meals | $10,360 | $8,460 | +$1,900 |
| Personal & travel | $5,340 | $4,350 | +$990 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$1,382 | −$2,592 | +$1,210 |
| Sticker price | $43,358 | $38,618 | +$4,740 |
| Average grants | −$24,599 | −$14,273 | −$10,326 |
| You pay | $18,759 | $24,345 | −$5,586 |
“+” means CU costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
CU cost questions
How much is tuition at CU?
Tuition and fees are $27,840 a year.
What is the total cost of attending CU?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $43,358 a year.
What do families actually pay at CU?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $18,759 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $17,882; $48–75k pay $19,609; $110k+ pay $20,917.
How much debt do CU graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $11,250, and 6.7% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Cumberland University overview