Cumberland University vs Rhodes College: which has better ROI?
Rhodes College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,340 in 6.3 years versus 8 years at Cumberland University, on median earnings of $66,651 vs $57,687 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cumberland University | Rhodes College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,759 | $28,585 |
| Total net cost | $75,036 | $114,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,687 | $66,651 |
| Median debt | $17,952 | $21,761 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $111,504 | $251,480 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cumberland University or Rhodes College?
Cumberland University, at $18,759 a year after aid versus $28,585 — a gap of $9,826 a year, or $39,304 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cumberland University or Rhodes College graduates earn more?
Rhodes College graduates report a median $66,651 ten years after entry, $8,964 more than the $57,687 at Cumberland University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Cumberland University or Rhodes College?
Cumberland University: its completers carry a median $17,952 in federal loans versus $21,761 at Rhodes College, a difference of $3,809. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Rhodes College, against 46% at Cumberland University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.