Head-to-head comparison
Lipscomb University vs Cumberland University: which has better ROI?
Option A Nashville, TN
Lipscomb University
- Net price / year
- $24,739
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,541
- Payback
- 13.8 yrs
Option B Lebanon, TN
Cumberland University
- Net price / year
- $18,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,687
- Payback
- 8 yrs
Cumberland University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,036 in 8 years versus 13.8 years at Lipscomb University, on median earnings of $57,687 vs $55,541 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lipscomb University | Cumberland University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,739 | $18,759 |
| Total net cost | $98,956 | $75,036 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,541 | $57,687 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $17,952 |
| Payback | 13.8 yrs | 8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $44,664 | $111,504 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lipscomb University or Cumberland University?
Cumberland University, at $18,759 a year after aid versus $24,739 — a gap of $5,980 a year, or $23,920 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 Lipscomb University or Cumberland University graduates earn more?
Cumberland University graduates report a median $57,687 ten years after entry, $2,146 more than the $55,541 at Lipscomb University. 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, Lipscomb University or Cumberland University?
Cumberland University: its completers carry a median $17,952 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Lipscomb University, a difference of $1,548. 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?
72% of students finish at Lipscomb University, 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.