Bethel University vs Cumberland University

Bethel University and Cumberland University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Bethel, a private Christian university in McKenzie, Tennessee, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on faith-based education. Cumberland, a public university in Lebanon, Tennessee, prides itself on its diverse student body and strong academic programs. While both universities offer a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Bethel University logo

Bethel University

Cumberland University logo

Cumberland University

Overview

Location McKenzie, Tennessee Lebanon, Tennessee
Campus setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 55.0% 61.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation Presbyterian

Admission

Acceptance rate 50.0% 57.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $50
SAT range 875 - 1108 N/A
ACT range 15 - 21 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 7.0%
Students submitting ACT score 72.0%
Total number of applicants 2,148 2,692
Total number of admissions given out 1,073 1,555
Admitted students who chose to enroll 522 591
Yield rate 48.6% 38.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $32,670 $43,022
Average net price $16,139 $28,459
Tuition $16,222 $24,336
Room & board $9,368 $9,000
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $14,696
100.0%
Average amount $11,563
Students receiving federal student loan 75.0%
Average amount $5,469
19.0%
Average amount $5,119
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $8,030
2.0%
Average amount $11,182

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,446
Men 47.4% Women 52.6%
2,257
Men 40.7% Women 59.3%
Graduate students 565
Men 34.7% Women 65.3%
283
Men 42.8% Women 57.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 6.3%
International students 2.3% 3.6%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 972 551
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Tennessee Georgia Alabama Florida Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 37.7% 51.5%
Dropout rate 34.9% 20.5%
Transferred out 27.4% 27.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,972
  • Year 2: $108,967
  • Year 3: $119,367
Homeland Security (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $64,157
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,064
  • Year 2: $55,061
  • Year 3: $56,946
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,807
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $53,703
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,898
  • Year 2: $50,022
  • Year 3: $49,458
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,085
  • Year 2: $43,943
  • Year 3: $45,488
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,193
  • Year 3: $41,184
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,354
  • Year 2: $39,950
  • Year 3: $39,095
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,927
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,788
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $62,414
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,549
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: $61,438
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $48,548
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $47,311
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,566
  • Year 2: $41,261
  • Year 3: $44,695
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,267
  • Year 2: $31,314
  • Year 3: $42,790
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,752
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: $37,954
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,951
  • Year 2: $41,937
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,960
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,915
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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