Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Lebanon, Tennessee, founded in 1842, serving residential undergraduates, graduate, online, and dual-enrollment students from 39 U.S. states and 48 countries across three academic schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1842
- HeadquartersLebanon, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cumberland University does
Cumberland University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts university founded in 1842 and located in Lebanon, Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of Nashville. It is one of the oldest private liberal arts universities in the South and serves a residential undergraduate, graduate, online, and dual-enrollment student body drawn from 39 U.S. states and 48 countries. The university organizes its academic portfolio across three schools: the Labry School of Science, Technology and Business; the Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions (CCNE-accredited); and the Oakley School of Humanities, Education and the Arts, the last of which houses the federally funded Papers of Martin Van Buren digital archive project. The institution supports 31 NAIA athletic teams, over 55 student organizations, five residence halls housing more than 500 students, and community programs contributing nearly 5,000 volunteer hours per year.
The university's product surface spans associate through master's degree programs, with notable recent additions including 10 new STEM programs (2023), an online B.B.A. (2022), and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN track (2025). Technology infrastructure consists of standard educational platforms — a learning management system, InVision Studio-based virtual campus tours, and online/hybrid program delivery — with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML systems or APIs. Distribution is primarily on-campus with growing online channels, supplemented by state-administered Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect tuition programs, articulation agreements with Nashville State Community College, and new clinical pathway partnerships with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Nashville Predators, and Lipscomb University.
Cumberland's revenue model is tuition-and-fee driven, supplemented by athletics-related fees, residential room and board, private donations and grants (including Library of Congress and USDA grants), and event-based fundraising such as the annual Phoenix Ball. The institution is governed by an independent Board of Trust under President Dr. Paul C. Stumb (26th president, in role since 2015), with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital ownership. Marketing and enrollment functions operate through organic social media, campus events, community outreach, and earned media across local and regional outlets. The institution has reported consecutive record enrollments in 2023, 2024, and 2025, alongside a 2022 "largest graduating class in school history" and the "largest gift in 180-year history" in October 2021.
Cumberland University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cumberland University
- Legal name
- Cumberland University
- Website
- https://cumberland.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1842
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cumberland University is a private nonprofit liberal arts university in Lebanon, Tennessee, founded in 1842, serving residential undergraduates, graduate, online, and dual-enrollment students from 39 U.S. states and 48 countries across three academic schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cumberland University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)
Keywords
Where Cumberland University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lebanon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cumberland University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including online programs. Students pay tuition based on program type and enrollment status.
- Athletics Revenue: NAIA intercollegiate athletics program generating revenue through enrollment, fan engagement, and donor support for 31 athletic teams.
- Private Donations and Grants: Major gifts, endowment contributions, and federal/state grants including Library of Congress grants for Van Buren Papers project and USDA grants for Culinary Center.
- Community Service Programs: Volunteer coordination serving approximately 5,000 community service hours annually, with programs like Habitat for Humanity partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Tennessee Promise Program |
| Subscription | Annual | Tennessee Reconnect Program |
| Subscription | Annual | Phoenix Promise Scholarship |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cumberland University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cumberland University is a private liberal arts university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs organized across three academic schools (Labry School of Science, Technology & Business; Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions; Oakley School of Humanities, Education & the Arts), supplemented by NAIA athletics, student life programming, and community outreach initiatives. It sells tuition-based educational services to traditional undergraduates, transfer students, graduate students, dual-enrollment high schoolers, and international students, and is funded in part by donations, grants, and state programs such as Tennessee Promise.
Product overview
Cumberland University is a private liberal arts university offering a comprehensive educational portfolio consisting of traditional undergraduate programs, graduate studies, and online offerings across three academic schools: the Labry School of Science, Technology & Business; the Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions; and the Oakley School of Humanities, Education & the Arts. The university provides approximately 55 student organizations, NCAA-affiliated athletics (31 teams), community outreach programs, and specialized services including career services, honors programs, and a culinary incubator. Programs range from associate degrees to doctoral-level offerings, with notable strength in nursing (NCLEX pass rates), education preparation, and historic papers research (Papers of Martin Van Buren).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Programs Traditional four-year residential degree programs in liberal arts, sciences, business, nursing, education, and fine arts for recent high school graduates.
- Graduate Programs Master's degree programs including MBA, M.S. in Nursing, M.S. in Computer Science, M.S. in Engineering Management, M.S. in Information Technology Management, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Public Service Management for working professionals and recent undergraduates.
- Online B.B.A. Program Online Bachelor of Business Administration program launched in Fall 2022 for students seeking a flexible undergraduate business degree.
- 10 New STEM Programs Ten new academic programs with a STEM focus announced in 2023 to broaden Cumberland's science, technology, engineering, and math offerings.
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN Track Master of Science in Nursing track launched in August 2025 preparing nurse practitioners in psychiatric mental health, expanding the Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions graduate nursing portfolio.
- Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs allowing high school students to earn college credit, including the Rising Phoenix Dual Enrollment Grant, for students seeking a head start on a college degree.
- Labry School of Science, Technology & Business Academic school offering Business, Science & Mathematics, and Technology programs including E-Sport Management and Information Technology degrees.
- Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions School offering nursing programs including BSN, MSN with multiple tracks (Nurse Educator, Nurse Executive Leadership, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), and LPN to BSN pathways.
- Oakley School of Humanities, Education & the Arts School offering Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences programs, and houses The Papers of Martin Van Buren historical research project.
- Athletics Programs 31 men's and women's NAIA athletic teams competing in the Mid South Conference, known as the Phoenix, providing intercollegiate competition for enrolled students.
- Cumberland Culinary Center A culinary business incubator supporting local food entrepreneurs with manufacturing facilities, food safety training, and business development resources in partnership with USDA, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and Performance Food Service.
- Community Outreach Program Student volunteer programs through which CU students contribute nearly 5,000 service hours each school year via partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and local schools.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% NCLEX pass rate for nursing students in January 2022
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cumberland University
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Cumberland University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Cumberland University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cumberland University Business CouncilcoreBusiness advisory council including area professionals, industry CEOs, and business owners chaired by University Trustee. Designs relevant programs for business majors, alumni, and community.
- University of Tennessee Baker School of Public Policy and Public AffairsminorConstitutional Conversation partnership for civic education programming with UT's Baker School and Institute of American Civics.
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)minorPartnership to host NSCA Southeast Regional Conference at CU, providing continuing education and professional development opportunities.
- Nashville PredatorsminorMSAT program collaboration providing athletic training students with hands-on experience alongside NHL team's medical staff.
- Lipscomb UniversityminorCollaborative partnership with Lipscomb University's athletics program for MSAT student clinical experiences.
- Vanderbilt University Medical CentercoreNewly established employment pathway partnership providing CU nursing graduates with preferential hiring considerations at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
- Nashville Public Television (NPT)minorPartnership supporting two broadcast channels through content collaboration and community programming.
- Nashville State Community CollegecoreTransfer pathway agreement for business students enabling seamless transition from Nashville State to complete bachelor's degree at CU.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cumberland University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Belmont University: Nashville-based private university with comparable mix of liberal arts, business, nursing, and graduate programs; directly competes with Cumberland for Nashville-area undergraduate and graduate students.
- Lipscomb University: Private Nashville university with similar program breadth (business, nursing, education, sciences) and an existing MSAT collaboration partner with Cumberland; directly competes for the same Nashville student pool.
- Trevecca Nazarene University: Nashville-based private university of similar size focused on undergraduate, graduate, and online programs with strong nursing and education offerings; competes directly for Nashville MSA students.
- Tennessee Wesleyan University: Tennessee private university offering liberal arts, business, nursing, and education programs; similar scale and mission to Cumberland and competes for Tennessee undergraduate and adult learners.
- Bryan College: Tennessee-based private college with Christian heritage offering liberal arts, business, and nursing programs at a comparable scale; competes for in-state and regional undergraduate students.
- Union University: Tennessee private university with comparable doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate programs including a strong nursing school; competes for Tennessee and Mid-South students at a similar profile.
- Sewanee: The University of the South: Tennessee-based private liberal arts university with comparable heritage (founded pre-Civil War) and focus on residential undergraduate liberal arts education; competes for high-achieving Tennessee and national students.
- Maryville College: Small East Tennessee private liberal arts college with similar size, curriculum mix, and tuition-dependent model; competes for the same in-state liberal arts undergraduate pool.
Broad incumbents
- Vanderbilt University: Large Nashville-based private research university with broader scope and resources; serves as the partnership counterparty for Cumberland's nursing employment pathway and sets competitive benchmarks for Nashville graduate and pre-professional programs.
Others
- Nashville State Community College: Local community college with a formal transfer pathway agreement into Cumberland's business programs; functions as a feeder/partner rather than a direct competitor in the same four-year market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cumberland University social profiles
Digital presenceCumberland University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Cumberland University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cumberland University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Cumberland University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cumberland University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cumberland University
What does Cumberland University do?
Cumberland University is a private liberal arts university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs organized across three academic schools (Labry School of Science, Technology & Business; Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions; Oakley School of Humanities, Education & the Arts), supplemented by NAIA athletics, student life programming, and community outreach initiatives. It sells tuition-based educational services to traditional undergraduates, transfer students, graduate students, dual-enrollment high schoolers, and international students, and is funded in part by donations, grants, and state programs such as Tennessee Promise.
Is Cumberland University a public or private company?
Cumberland University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cumberland University founded?
Cumberland University was founded in 1842. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cumberland University based?
Cumberland University is headquartered in Lebanon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cumberland University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are athletics Revenue, private Donations and Grants and community Service Programs.
Who are Cumberland University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Belmont University, Lipscomb University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Bryan College, Union University, Sewanee: The University of the South and Maryville College. Vanderbilt University is listed as a broad incumbent. Nashville State Community College is listed as an others.
Does Cumberland University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cumberland University.
What industry is Cumberland University in?
Cumberland University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAB, Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.