University Of The Cumberlands

Virginia Commonwealth University's published cost of attendance is $25,567, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,736, middle-income families pay around $12,572, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,846.

Azimuth ranks University of the Cumberlands #115 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

VCU participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA. The spread between what low-income and higher-income families pay reflects the university's aid structure, though VCU's endowment depth is more limited than at larger flagship institutions, which constrains how aggressively it can discount for middle-income families.

Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the gap between sticker price and what households actually pay — should use the income-band figures as their planning anchor rather than the published cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,911, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,623; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,882, median federal debt of $14,911 projects to a monthly payment of about $168 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,882, placing University of the Cumberlands in the 11.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,738 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of the Cumberlands in the 42.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

That performance is notable relative to KY's no-degree earnings baseline of $31,626 — the state median for working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential — and reflects the degree's real lift for graduates entering KY's regional labor market. Azimuth ranks University of the Cumberlands #1093 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 26.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern at University of the Cumberlands is anchored in Business, which forms the core of the institution's degree output. Business/Commerce, General stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong earnings, making it the primary driver of the institution's aggregate return story.

Among the top programs by scale, General Studies enrolls 222 graduates and represents the largest footprint in the institution's degree mix. The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 175 students with median 4-year earnings of $59,760, and Azimuth ranks the program #18 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

Psychology, General and Human Services, General round out the higher-earning end of the program lineup, with Psychology, General graduating 130 students at median 4-year earnings of $40,751 and Human Services, General posting median 4-year earnings of $37,823 across 110 graduates. The Business family accounts for 18% of degrees, followed by Education at 7% and Social Sciences at 51%, a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile.

University of the Cumberlands's program mix is anchored in Business, with secondary concentrations in Education (7% of graduates) and Social Sciences (51% of graduates). Business accounts for 18% of degree output, making it the institution's primary academic identity.

Across 18 programs, 10 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 1,340 students annually. Business/Commerce, General anchors the institution's strongest financial outcomes, combining meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings.

The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 175 students and earns median earnings of $59,760 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #18 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General follows with 130 graduates earning $40,751; Azimuth ranks the program #328 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The highest-earning programs at University of the Cumberlands are concentrated in applied and technical fields. Nursing leads with median earnings of $94,183 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #148 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Business/Commerce, General and Kinesiology also post strong early-career figures — $59,760 and $45,660 respectively — reflecting direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter the labor market without requiring advanced degrees.