Cumberland University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Cumberland University charges a net price of $18,759/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $75,036. Graduates earn a median $57,687 ten years after entry, $9,327/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8 years — a 20-year net return of $111,504, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Cumberland University's 8-year payback ranks #687 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 46% of them, and #9 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $18,759/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $75,036 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $57,687 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,327/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $17,952 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $111,504 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Cumberland University's own numbers. Net price $18,759 × 4 years = $75,036 total. Median earnings $57,687 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,327 a year of premium. $75,036 ÷ $9,327 = 8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $111,504. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Cumberland University students graduate with?
A median $17,952 in federal loans among completers, or 31% of the $57,687 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Cumberland University students graduate?
46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $75,036 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $163,122 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Cumberland University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $18,759 net price runs $3,490 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $13,960 more across the full degree.