Head-to-head comparison
Cumberland University vs Bryan College-Dayton: which has better ROI?
Option A Lebanon, TN
Cumberland University
- Net price / year
- $18,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,687
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Option B Dayton, TN
Bryan College-Dayton
- Net price / year
- $20,614
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,434
- Payback
- 13.6 yrs
Cumberland University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,036 in 8 years versus 13.6 years at Bryan College-Dayton, on median earnings of $57,687 vs $54,434 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cumberland University | Bryan College-Dayton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,759 | $20,614 |
| Total net cost | $75,036 | $82,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,687 | $54,434 |
| Median debt | $17,952 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 8 yrs | 13.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $111,504 | $39,024 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Cumberland University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Cumberland University, at $18,759 a year after aid versus $20,614 — a gap of $1,855 a year, or $7,420 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Cumberland University or Bryan College-Dayton graduates earn more?
Cumberland University graduates report a median $57,687 ten years after entry, $3,253 more than the $54,434 at Bryan College-Dayton. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Cumberland University or Bryan College-Dayton?
Cumberland University: its completers carry a median $17,952 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bryan College-Dayton, a difference of $5,048. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Bryan College-Dayton, 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.