Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Lebanon, Tennessee
67% Acceptance Rate
Cumberland University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
67%Acceptance Rate
3.3Avg GPA
$41,657Annual Cost
$57,687Grad Salary
32.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
67%
Avg GPA
3.3
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
32.5% receive Pell
Cumberland University, founded in 1842 in Lebanon, Tennessee, is a private university ranked #71 in Regional Universities South by U.S. News. Offering programs in nursing, business, and education, it features a historic 150-acre campus with modern amenities like the Labry School of Science. Its small-town setting near Nashville combines tradition with professional opportunities.
Cumberland University Acceptance Rate
At 67%, admission to Cumberland University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What CU Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 67% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.85
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Cumberland University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Cumberland University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
CU reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority: 2026/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
CU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at CU is 3.3. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.00–3.3 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.50–3.70.CU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.30 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.10 – 3.29
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.90 – 3.09
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.89
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Not the same school as "University of the Cumberlands" (Williamsburg, KY) - verify UNITID before sending materials.
- No essay and no recommendation letter required for first-year applicants; test-optional with self-reported scores accepted.
- Does not accept the Common Application.
- ~58% acceptance rate, average ACT around 21 (range 19?23); located in Lebanon, TN, about 25 miles from Nashville.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at CU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Cumberland University's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Cumberland University (CU) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if CU is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into CU Without SAT or ACT?
CU neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for CU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into CU isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Apply through CU's own portal, not Common App
Cumberland University does not accept the Common Application. Applicants need to use CU's direct application to avoid wasted effort.
Front-load your test score and GPA context since there's no essay or rec letter
First-year applicants aren't required to submit an essay or recommendation letter. That means self-reported test scores and transcript context carry more relative weight than at essay-heavy schools.
Apply in the Aug 1?Oct 15 early window
Applying in this window gets a faster decision, which frees up senior year and often improves scholarship timing.
Pair the application with an early FAFSA if you're a Tennessee resident
CU participates in Tennessee Promise-adjacent aid conversations for TN residents. Filing FAFSA alongside the application maximizes aid packaging odds.
Expert Insight:
Don't confuse this school with University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY. They are different institutions with different UNITIDs, and mixing up transcripts, test scores, or recommendation letters between the two is a real and recurring error.
CU Profile
Full Name
Cumberland University (CU)
City
Lebanon
State
Tennessee
ZIP Code
37087
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a CU Degree Worth It?
Whether CU is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $59,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.08%.
How much does a degree from CU Cost?
The sticker price is $41,657/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
32.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 25.1% take federal loans at CU — file your FAFSA early and list CU as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a CU Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $57,687 — about 42% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at CU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About CU Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Cumberland University run about $57,687 a year.
Cumberland University costs roughly $41,657 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 32.5% receive a Pell Grant at Cumberland University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 67%, Cumberland University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Cumberland University average a 3.3 GPA.
Cumberland University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.9, Cumberland University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Cumberland University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Priority: 2026/02/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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