Tennessee Promise helps Lebanon's Cumberland University set enrollment record with 2,550 students
Andy HumblesLebanon's Cumberland University announced a record enrollment this fall semester with 2,550 students, pushed in large part by Tennessee Promise.
The Tennessee Promise program enables students to seek a tuition-free associate's degree at community colleges.
Cumberland is a four-year university that accepts the Tennessee Promise scholarship as payment in full for each semester of tuition, rather than charging those students the standard amount, according to the school's marketing and communications director Caitlin Vaughn.
"In addition to helping Cumberland recruit more students, the Tennessee Promise is helping us to diversify our student body and provide significant college access to students who otherwise couldn’t afford the full college experience at a historic, private university," Cumberland University President Paul C. Stumb said.
Cumberland has 772 Tennessee Promise students enrolled this fall, which include 473 who are new. The school has enrolled 1,527 students since the program started, Vaughn said.
Enrollment at Cumberland has increased five straight years with a 72 percent jump since 2014, according to school representatives. Cumberland began accepting the Tennessee Promise scholarship as payment in 2015.
This fall's enrollment includes 2,279 undergraduate students, 271 graduate students and 544 students who live on campus. Cumberland has its largest ever freshman class this fall semester with 692 students.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.