Degree Opportunities at the University of the Cumberlands
The University of the Cumberlands appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Theology Degree Programs Online.
The University of the Cumberlands offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs on its Kentucky campus and online. There are 40 different majors and minors available at the undergraduate level, as well as several pre-professional programs. Some of the undergraduate topics students can pursue on campus include art, music, applied physics, journalism, and communication arts.
Pre-professional programs include Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Engineering, and Pre-Law. Students may also enroll in Pre-Medicine, Pre-Optometry, or Pre-Pharmacy programs. Other topics in pre-professional programs include veterinary science, physical therapy, seminary, and physician assistant.
Since the University of the Cumberlands is a religiously affiliated school, many of the programs available deal with Christianity and prepare students for work in the church. In religious programs, students will enroll in classes like Church History, New Testament Survey, Interpreting the Bible, World Religions, and Introduction to Theology. Some of the areas of focus students can choose for religious study include an associate’s degree in Missions & Missionaries or a bachelor’s degree in Missions & Ministries.
Specializations at the bachelor’s degree level include Christian Studies, Church Planting, Missions, and Youth & Family Ministry. Students may also earn a Master’s in Christian Studies (MACS) while enrolled at the University of the Cumberlands. Conveniently, students may study almost all religious topics online.
All students earning degrees at the University of the Cumberlands must complete a series of general education courses on topics like writing, math, history, Christian faith, social studies, and art. For example, students must take six credit hours in Christian faith in a class like Church History, World Religions, Old Testament Survey, or Introduction to Christian Ethics.
Students interested in areas of study at the graduate level may want to explore degrees in business, information technology, the health sciences, education, counseling, or criminal justice. The university offers several Master of Business Administration paths that reward students with specialized MBAs in areas like information technology, digital forensics, or information systems.
Students who already have a graduate degree and want to earn a doctorate may choose from degrees in business, education, clinical psychology, or education. The university also offers different paths to similar degrees like the Doctor of Business Administration, the Executive Doctorate of Philosophy in Information Technology, or the Doctor of Philosophy in Business.
About the University of the Cumberlands
The University of the Cumberlands is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky and has around 13,400 students attending classes. The school was founded in 1888 through the efforts of a local Baptist organization known as the Mount Zion Association. The school’s official colors are red, white, and blue, and the university’s mascot is the Patriot. The school was known as Cumberland College until 2005 when the school gained university status.
The first students at the University of the Cumberlands were senior students with previous college experience, but the school would transition into a junior college in 1918. Accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) would first come in 1931. The college has seen future governors, military generals, and university presidents graduate in its history.
University of the Cumberlands Accreditation Details
The University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and may award associate, baccalaureate, masters, doctoral, and education specialist degrees with that status. The university was last accredited in 2016 and will undertake its reaccreditation process once more during the 2026 school year.
The programs in education at the university are accredited by the Kentucky Educational Standards Board. Additional accreditation comes from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which has accredited the RN-BSN program. The MSN-FNP program is also accredited by the CCNE. The university is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of residents from around Kentucky.
University of the Cumberlands Application Requirements
To apply to the University of the Cumberlands, students must complete an application for admission, submit official transcripts from high school or college, and official copies of scores from the ACT or SAT I tests. Some programs at the university require additional tests, so students should check with those programs for full information on application materials.
Students who receive a score below the school’s minimum for the SAT or ACT must demonstrate English proficiency before they can gain admission to the university. Minimum scores are 17 for the ACT and 920 for the SAT. Students applying from outside the United States must also take the English as a second language test and obtain a 550 on the paper test or a 79 on the internet-based test.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees for undergraduate students are $9,875, and room and board is $9,300. The total cost for undergraduate, on-campus students is $19,175 per year. Programs offered online are charged at $199 per credit hour, and students must also pay a $50 technology fee each term. There are six terms each year. Students will pay $597 for a three-credit class and may need to pay a late fee of $50 if they register for classes after the first day of class.
Graduate students will pay a rate based on the program they enter, and some programs may have some additional fees, as well as costs for books and certification. For example, students in the Master’s in Criminal Justice Online program will pay $315 per credit hour. Students in the Online Masters in Teaching program will also pay $315 per credit hour. Many graduate programs can be completed in just 18 to 24 months, and students may also qualify to transfer credits into the program.
Financial aid is available through many sources for students who attend the University of the Cumberlands. Students may qualify for scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study awards. Scholarships and grants are funds that don’t need to be repaid, and loans are offered with varying payment terms and arrangements. Students may also receive a work-study award that will allow them to work while enrolled for classes.
A few of the scholarship programs available to students include the Patriot Scholars program and the Presidential Scholarship. Students may also pursue an ARMY ROTC scholarship, various athletic scholarships, or a Christian Leadership scholarship. Grants available to students at the University of the Cumberlands include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships.