College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Cumberland University

Lebanon, TN 2,053 Undergrads 63.7% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$41,657
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,292
After Aid
Median Earnings
$57,687
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,292
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$57,687
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate63.7%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
67.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$499k
+$102k
+$14k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$433k
+$36k
-$51k
Full Cost$42k/yr
+$349k
-$48k
-$136k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
50
Median Cost$18k/yr
Never
-78%
Full Cost$42k/yr
Never
-90%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-71%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-78%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$28,960
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$57,377
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (5yr)
$43,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,903
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$51,695
Lifetime Value Added
-$91k

Master's Degrees

Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,420
Earnings (5yr)
$84,046
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$55,137
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$59,235
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$21,380
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.