More selective than 8% of Kentucky colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $25,567. College Scorecard.
Higher than 54% of Kentucky colleges we cover and 43% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 50% of Kentucky colleges we cover and 26% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
University of the Cumberlands acceptance rate & admissions
Of 4,281 applicants, University of the Cumberlands admitted 3,056 and 645 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class).
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of the Cumberlands tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for students who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
What University of the Cumberlands costs to finish, and how fast it pays back
Graduates of University of the Cumberlands took 4.5 years on average to finish, so the yearly price adds up to the total below. Payback compares former students' earnings with what high school graduates earn in Kentucky. The figures follow your residency and income choices above.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,736 | $48,312 | 4.2 years |
| $30–48k | $11,147 | $50,162 | 4.4 years |
| $48–75k | $12,572 | $56,574 | 4.9 years |
| $75–110k | $16,441 | $73,985 | 6.4 years |
| $110k+ | $18,846 | $84,807 | 7.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (30% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of former students 10 years after starting ($45,036) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,520 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard (net price, earnings); IPEDS Graduation Rates (time to finish); U.S. Census Bureau ACS (high school earnings). Calculated by EducationGuide.
University of the Cumberlands majors, earnings & careers
University of the Cumberlands offers 30 bachelor's majors across 10 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Humanities & Languages · 5
- Health & Medicine · 4
- Science & Math · 4
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 4
- Arts & Design · 3
- Business & Finance · 3
- Education · 3
- Communications & Media · 2
- Engineering · 1
- Technology & Computing · 1
Highest-earning majors at University of the Cumberlands
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $94,183 | $29,400 |
| Business | $59,760 | $21,219 |
| Biology | $59,702 | $20,318 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $45,660 | $22,630 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $45,061 | $22,750 |
| Criminal Justice | $41,785 | $25,000 |
| Psychology | $40,751 | $21,750 |
| Communications | $40,699 | $19,331 |
Quick list of all 30 majors
- Accounting—
- Biology$59,702
- Business$59,760
- Chemistry—
- Communications$40,699
- Computer and Information Sciences—
- Criminal Justice$41,785
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)$40,093
- Education (Subject Teaching)—
- Engineering, Other—
- English—
- Health Sciences—
- History—
- Human Services$37,823
- Journalism—
- Kinesiology / Exercise Science$45,660
- Liberal Arts / General Studies—
- Management Information Systems—
- Mathematics—
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$45,061
- Music—
- Nursing$94,183
- Physics—
- Political Science—
- Psychology$40,751
- Religious Education$39,211
- Spanish / French / Romance Languages—
- Special Education—
- Studio Art—
- Theatre—
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Business → Management analyst
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.1% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Criminal Justice → Police officer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in Williamsburg
2 bedrooms $909.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 52 inches of rain a year, 11 inches of snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
No hazard rated high.
FEMA National Risk Index, Whitley County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
Whitley County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare University of the Cumberlands with similar schools
Similar private colleges in Kentucky by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Cumberlands | 99% | $14,107 | 50% | $45,036 | This school |
| Spalding University | 99% | $25,491 | 52% | $49,438 | |
| Georgetown College | 91% | $14,095 | 49% | $52,074 | |
| Midway University | 95% | $29,579 | 41% | $44,246 | |
| Thomas More University | 90% | $21,835 | 41% | $59,384 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
University of the Cumberlands would cost you $11,384 less per year than Spalding University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at University of the Cumberlands, mostly from lower tuition & fees (−$19,325).
- Spalding University gives aided families $8,579 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Kentucky resident | University of the Cumberlands | Spalding University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $9,875 | $29,200 | −$19,325 |
| Books & supplies | $0 | $1,100 | −$1,100 |
| Housing & meals | $9,300 | $8,480 | +$820 |
| Personal & travel | $6,968 | $7,914 | −$946 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$576 | −$1,164 | +$588 |
| Sticker price | $25,567 | $45,530 | −$19,963 |
| Average grants | −$11,460 | −$20,039 | +$8,579 |
| You pay | $14,107 | $25,491 | −$11,384 |
“+” means University of the Cumberlands costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about University of the Cumberlands
What is the University of the Cumberlands acceptance rate?
University of the Cumberlands accepts 99% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 3,056 of 4,281 applicants were admitted.
How much does University of the Cumberlands cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $25,567 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $14,107 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $10,736 and families earning $110k+ pay $18,846.
How much do University of the Cumberlands graduates earn?
Former University of the Cumberlands students earn a median $45,036 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the University of the Cumberlands graduation rate?
50% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year.
How long does a University of the Cumberlands degree take to pay off?
For a family earning $48–75k, finishing at University of the Cumberlands costs about $56,574 after grants ($12,572 a year for 4.5 years, the average time graduates took). Former students earn a median $45,036 ten years after starting, $11,520 more than high school graduates in Kentucky ($33,516), so the cost is repaid in 4.9 years of that gain, before taxes and interest (EducationGuide calculation).
Is University of the Cumberlands the right fit for your family?
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of the Cumberlands: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-the-cumberlands (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).