Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Williamsburg, Kentucky
71.4% Acceptance Rate
University of the Cumberlands — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
71.4%Acceptance Rate
3.47Avg GPA
1060Avg SAT
$24,654Annual Cost
$45,036Grad Salary
48.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
71.4%
Avg GPA
3.47
Avg SAT
1060
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1020–1090
Need-Based Aid
48.5% receive Pell
University of the Cumberlands is a private, Christian institution in Kentucky known for its commitment to accessible education, academic excellence, and professional preparation. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university provides a supportive campus environment that encourages both intellectual and spiritual growth. Its focus on providing a flexible, high-value education makes it an effective choice for students aiming to advance their professional and academic ambitions.
University of the Cumberlands Acceptance Rate
At 71.4%, admission to University of the Cumberlands is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What Cumberland College Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 71.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.47 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.27 – 3.46
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.02
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of the Cumberlands Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of the Cumberlands follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Cumberland College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Cumberland College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Cumberland College is 3.47. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.17–3.47 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.67–3.87.Cumberland College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.47 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.27 – 3.46
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.07 – 3.26
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.06
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Renamed from Cumberland College to University of the Cumberlands; both names may appear interchangeably in older records and search results.
- Presidential Scholarship requires 3.75 GPA + 24 ACT/1190 SAT (freshman) or 3.5 GPA (transfer), plus an essay and two recommendation letters on servant leadership; priority filing date is February 1.
- Tuition was cut 57% in 2019; free textbook loan program is included for all main-campus students.
- Total enrollment exceeds 18,000, driven substantially by online graduate/adult programs - distinct from the smaller residential undergraduate population.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Cumberland College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from University of the Cumberlands's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of the Cumberlands (Cumberland College) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Cumberland College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Cumberland College Without SAT or ACT?
Cumberland College neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
University of the Cumberlands Average SAT Score: 1060
Admitted students at University of the Cumberlands average a 1060 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1060 — Accessible
A 1060 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1090 SAT) to stand out. Below average? University of the Cumberlands allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1020? A retake is worth it at Cumberland College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1060 | 1020 | 1090 |
A score under 1020 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1090+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into University of the Cumberlands (Cumberland College) with a 1100 SAT?
At 1100, your SAT is squarely in Cumberland College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Cumberland College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into Cumberland College isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Know That "University of the Cumberlands" and "Cumberland College" Are the Same Institution - Older Materials May Use Either Name
The school was renamed from Cumberland College to University of the Cumberlands; scholarship databases, transcripts, and some search results may still reference "Cumberland College." Treat both names as fully current and interchangeable when researching, rather than assuming outdated or unrelated information.
Apply for the Presidential Scholarship (First-Time Freshman: 3.75 GPA + 24 ACT/1190 SAT) by the February 1 Priority Date, Not Just the General Admission Deadline
Cumberlands runs a separate priority filing date (February 1) for most scholarships, distinct from general rolling admission - and you must already be admitted and have generally filed the FAFSA before applying. If you're targeting the Presidential Scholarship specifically, secure your UNA... err, Cumberlands admission decision well before February 1 so the scholarship application isn't rushed at the last minute.
Submit the Servant-Leadership Essay and Two Recommendation Letters as a Real Differentiator, Not an Afterthought
Beyond GPA and test-score thresholds, the Presidential Scholarship explicitly requires demonstrating "servant leadership, academic excellence, and a commitment to community service" through an essay and two letters of recommendation from a teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator. Since Cumberlands frames this scholarship around character as much as academics, choose recommenders who can speak concretely to service and leadership moments, not just classroom performance.
Use the Textbook Loan Program and Cumberlands Commitment Fund to Model Your Real Out-of-Pocket Cost
Cumberlands cut tuition by 57% in 2019 and pairs this with a free textbook loan program for all main-campus students plus a Cumberlands Commitment Fund/forgivable zero-interest loan combination specifically designed to reduce remaining out-of-pocket costs. When comparing financial aid offers across schools, factor in these two structural cost-reducers explicitly rather than comparing sticker tuition alone, since they meaningfully change Cumberlands' effective cost relative to peer institutions.
Expert Insight:
Applicants sometimes assume Cumberlands' modest undergraduate acceptance rate (around 83%) reflects the whole institution's scale and selectivity - but Cumberlands' total enrollment exceeds 18,000 students, driven heavily by large online graduate and adult-completion programs; a prospective undergraduate should confirm program-specific class sizes and on-campus community size directly, since aggregate enrollment figures don't reflect the residential undergraduate experience.
Cumberland College Profile
Full Name
University of the Cumberlands (Cumberland College)
City
Williamsburg
State
Kentucky
ZIP Code
40769
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Cumberland College Degree Worth It?
Whether Cumberland College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $45,000, and graduates see a 3.43% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Cumberland College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $24,654/year at Cumberland College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Cumberland College, 48.5% receive a Pell Grant and 69.2% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Cumberland College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Cumberland College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Cumberland College graduates report a median income of $45,036, about 11% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of the Cumberlands. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of the Cumberlands. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of the Cumberlands. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Cumberland College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Cumberland College Admissions
University of the Cumberlands graduates earn a lower median salary of $45,036/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at University of the Cumberlands is relatively affordable, around $24,654/year.
48.5% of University of the Cumberlands students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
University of the Cumberlands's acceptance rate is 71.4%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted University of the Cumberlands students is 3.47, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.17 puts you in the standard applicant pool at University of the Cumberlands. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.07 or below makes admission tougher at University of the Cumberlands, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
University of the Cumberlands weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1060, and within the 1020–1090 range, keeps you competitive.
University of the Cumberlands follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Priority scholarship: 2026/02/01. That's University of the Cumberlands's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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