CU's tuition & fees has increased from $21,210 (2015) to $27,840 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 31.26% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $5,700 (year 2015) to $8,280 (year 2025).
CU's tuition increase rate is higher than the Tennessee's average increase rate of -16.16%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 30.64% from 2015 ($35,380).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, CU's COA is $46,220, which is increased by 3.31% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to CU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 31.26% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $26,640. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Cumberland University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,200, and it has decreased -14.29% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,400 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $1,400 | |
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| 2017-18 | $1,400 | |
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| 2018-19 | $1,500 | 7.14% |
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| 2019-20 | $1,500 | |
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| 2020-21 | $1,500 | |
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| 2021-22 | $1,500 | |
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| 2022-23 | $1,500 | |
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| 2023-24 | $1,200 | -20.00% |
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| 2024-25 | $1,200 | |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 49.00% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 29.78% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Cumberland University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $12,770 | $14,000 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $12,900 | $14,130 | 1.02% |
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| 2017-18 | $13,030 | $14,250 | 1.01% |
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| 2018-19 | $13,600 | $14,840 | 4.37% |
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| 2019-20 | $13,730 | $14,970 | 0.96% |
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| 2020-21 | $14,310 | $15,150 | 4.22% |
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| 2021-22 | $15,170 | $16,110 | 6.01% |
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| 2022-23 | $14,780 | $15,720 | -2.57% |
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| 2023-24 | $15,700 | $16,300 | 6.22% |
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| 2024-25 | $17,180 | $17,520 | 9.43% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Cumberland University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Cumberland University | $27,840 | $27,840 | - |
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|
| Vanderbilt University | $67,498 | $63,946 | 5.55% |
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|
| Belmont University | $42,540 | $41,320 | 2.95% |
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| Lincoln Memorial University | $26,938 | $26,150 | 3.01% |
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| Lipscomb University | $40,572 | $38,824 | 4.50% |
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| Lee University | $23,790 | $22,690 | 4.85% |
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