- Snapshot Card
- Start Here
- University of the Cumberlands Online Master's Programs
- Quick Decision Guide
- What University of the Cumberlands Is Known For
- Online Master's Programs at University of the Cumberlands by Subject
- How University of the Cumberlands Compares
- Admissions Snapshot
- Tuition and Cost Overview
- Related Rankings
- Frequently Asked Questions
University of the Cumberlands Snapshot Card
50+
Online master’s programs
$250
Per credit hour
—
Public university ranking
—
Public research university
Key policies
Institution type:
Private, Nonprofit
Regional accreditation:
SACSCOC
Admissions model:
Rolling admissions
GRE/GMAT required:
Not required
Out-of-state premium:
No — flat rate for all students
Notable Programmatic Accreditations
- AACSB
- ACBSP
- CACREP
- CAHME
- CCNE
- CEPH
- NSA/DHS CAE-CD
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
Start Here
- Budget-driven students who want a private university master’s degree under $10,000 total for most programs
- Professionals who value Christian faith integration in their graduate education
- Career changers and working adults who need rolling admissions and no GRE/GMAT
- Kentucky educators seeking Rank II certification through MEd pathways
- IT and cybersecurity professionals looking for concentration-rich programs at low cost
- Students who need AACSB-accredited business programs for employer requirements or prestige signaling
- Students seeking a nationally recognized brand name for resume value
- Learners who want a secular academic environment free of faith-based frameworks
- Research-oriented students who need active faculty research labs and funded assistantships
- Students requiring CAEP-accredited education programs or guaranteed out-of-state teacher certification reciprocity
University of the Cumberlands Online Master’s Programs
University of the Cumberlands (UC) is a private, Baptist-affiliated university based in Williamsburg, Kentucky, regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It has built one of the largest and most affordable online master’s portfolios among private institutions in the United States, with more than 50 online graduate programs spanning education, business, information technology, cybersecurity, counseling, healthcare, and several other fields.
What makes UC distinctive is not any single program — it’s the combination of very low per-credit tuition (approximately $250 per credit hour for most programs), rolling admissions with new cohorts starting every eight weeks, no GRE or GMAT requirement for the vast majority of programs, and a faith-integrated learning environment rooted in its Baptist heritage. That faith dimension is not just a label: coursework across programs incorporates Christian ethical frameworks, and the university’s mission explicitly centers servant leadership and moral formation. For some students, that’s a meaningful draw. For others, it’s a reason to look elsewhere.
UC’s online student body skews toward working professionals — teachers seeking rank advancement, mid-career IT professionals adding cybersecurity credentials, counselors completing licensure-track hours, and business professionals pursuing MBAs without taking on significant debt. The university’s admissions model is intentionally accessible: most programs require a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, official transcripts, and a minimum GPA (typically 2.5–3.0 depending on the program), with no standardized test scores needed.
The practical reality of UC’s model is straightforward. If you prioritize affordability, flexible scheduling, faith alignment, and accessible admissions above brand prestige, research infrastructure, or secular academic culture, UC is built for you. If those priorities run in the other direction, the rest of this page will help you confirm that — and point you toward alternatives that may be a better match.
Quick Decision Guide
This guide gives you an immediate signal on whether University of the Cumberlands is worth a deeper look — or whether your time is better spent elsewhere.
Quick Fit Summary: UC is built for cost-conscious working professionals who want a regionally accredited, faith-based master’s degree they can complete on a flexible timeline without standardized test hurdles.
Cost Signal: ~$250 per credit hour for most programs. Total program costs typically range from $7,500 (30-credit programs) to $15,000 (60-credit counseling program).
Learning Model Signal: Asynchronous online delivery with 8-week terms. No residency or in-person requirements for most programs. Exceptions include the MAT (student teaching), clinical mental health counseling (practicum/internship), school counseling (field experience), and PA studies (clinical rotations).
Admissions Signal: Rolling admissions year-round. No GRE or GMAT for most programs. The PA program is the notable exception — it’s selective and requires the GRE.
Flexibility Signal: New terms begin approximately every 8 weeks, giving students six or more entry points per year. Most programs can be completed in 12–24 months at full-time pace.
Main Tradeoff: UC offers exceptional affordability and accessibility in a faith-based framework, but it trades away research infrastructure, national brand recognition, and certain programmatic accreditations (notably AACSB and CAEP) that some employers or licensure boards may expect. Students who prioritize cost efficiency and faith alignment over prestige and research will find strong value here. Students with the opposite priorities will not.
What University of the Cumberlands Is Known For
UC’s reputation in the online master’s space rests on a few specific pillars — none of them related to research output or national prestige rankings, and that’s worth stating plainly. Here’s what the institution actually does well and what draws students to its programs.
Education programs as the institutional backbone.
UC’s deepest investment is in education — a pipeline that runs from the Master of Arts in Teaching (initial certification) through multiple MEd specializations (educational leadership, teacher leader, instructional leadership in literacy, gifted education, and special education) to an Education Specialist (EdS) degree and doctoral programs. For Kentucky educators in particular, UC’s MEd programs provide direct pathways to Rank II salary advancement, which translates to meaningful pay increases in Kentucky’s public school salary schedules. The breadth of education concentrations is unusual for a university of UC’s size.
A growing IT and cybersecurity portfolio with federal recognition.
UC’s MS in Information Technology offers more than a dozen concentrations — from cloud computing and blockchain to data science and cybersecurity — all at the same $250 per credit rate. The university holds NSA/DHS designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD), which is a substantive credential: it means the cybersecurity and information systems security curricula meet federal standards for depth and rigor. This designation puts UC in the same category as much larger and more expensive institutions in cyber defense education.
CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling.
UC’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling carries CACREP accreditation — the gold standard for counseling programs and a requirement or strong preference for licensure in most states. At $250 per credit for a 60-credit program, the total cost of approximately $15,000 is dramatically lower than most CACREP-accredited alternatives, which commonly run $30,000–$60,000. This is arguably UC’s highest-value single program relative to the market.
IACBE-accredited business programs — not AACSB.
UC’s MBA and business master’s programs are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). This is a legitimate programmatic accreditation, but it is not AACSB — and that distinction matters for students whose employers, industries, or career goals specifically require or prefer AACSB credentials. For students who don’t face that requirement, IACBE accreditation combined with $7,500 total MBA cost represents strong value.
Affordability as a deliberate institutional strategy, not an afterthought.
UC’s pricing isn’t an accident or a promotional rate. The university has structured its entire online operation around high enrollment volume at low per-credit cost, with a flat $250 per credit rate across most programs. This makes UC one of the most affordable private universities for online graduate education in the country — competitive with, and often cheaper than, many public university out-of-state rates.
Faith-based learning as an active feature.
UC’s Baptist affiliation is woven into the academic experience, not confined to a chapel requirement or mission statement. Courses incorporate Christian ethical perspectives, and the institutional culture assumes a degree of alignment with faith-based values. For students who want that integration, it’s a genuine differentiator. For students who don’t, it’s a reason this page includes a detailed ‘Not a Best Fit For’ section.
Online Master’s Programs at University of the Cumberlands by Subject
UC’s online master’s catalog spans more than 20 distinct degree programs across education, business, IT, cybersecurity, counseling, healthcare, criminal justice, and several other fields. The table below captures the major programs with their key decision-relevant details. Following the table, each subject area gets an evaluative breakdown.
| Program | Degree | Subject Area | Credits | Est. Total Cost | GRE Required | Accreditation | In-Person Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration | MBA | Business | 30 | $7,500 | No | IACBE | No |
| MS in Management and Leadership | MS | Business | 30 | $7,500 | No | IACBE | No |
| MS in Accounting | MS | Business | 30 | $7,500 | No | IACBE | No |
| Master of Arts in Teaching | MA | Education | 36 | $9,000 | No | — | Yes |
| MEd in Educational Leadership | MEd | Education | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MEd in Teacher Leader | MEd | Education | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MA in Education — School Counseling P-12 | MA | Education | 48 | $12,000 | No | — | Yes |
| MEd in Instructional Leadership — Literacy | MEd | Education | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MEd in Instructional Leadership — Gifted Education | MEd | Education | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MEd in Instructional Leadership — Special Education | MEd | Education | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | MA | Psychology | 60 | $15,000 | No | CACREP | Yes |
| MS in Clinical Psychology | MS | Psychology | 36 | $9,000 | No | — | No |
| MS in Information Technology | MS | IT & Data | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MS in Information Systems Security | MS | Cybersecurity | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MS in Digital Forensics | MS | Cybersecurity | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MS in Justice Administration — Criminal Justice | MS | Criminal Justice | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| Master of Health Sciences | MHS | Healthcare | 36 | $9,000 | No | — | No |
| MS in Physician Assistant Studies | MS | Healthcare | — | — | Yes | ARC-PA | Yes |
| MS in Public Health | MS | Healthcare | 42 | $10,500 | No | — | No |
| MS in Health and Human Performance | MS | Healthcare | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MS in Environmental Science | MS | Other | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
| MA in English | MA | Other | 30 | $7,500 | No | — | No |
Education is UC’s largest and most developed online master’s subject area, with seven distinct programs covering initial teacher certification, instructional leadership, educational administration, and school counseling. This breadth is unusual for a private university of UC’s size, and it reflects the institution’s deep roots in training educators for the Appalachian region and beyond.
The Master of Arts in Teaching is a certification-track program for career changers — individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a content area who want to become licensed teachers. It offers five certification tracks (elementary P-5, middle grades 5-9, secondary 8-12, special education LBD P-12, and interdisciplinary early childhood education) and requires student teaching, making it one of the few UC programs that is not fully online. The MAT leads to initial teacher certification in Kentucky; students outside Kentucky should verify reciprocity with their state licensing board before enrolling, as certification portability is not guaranteed.
The MEd in Educational Leadership targets current teachers moving into administration, with tracks in principalship (P-12), supervisor of instruction, director of pupil personnel, and director of special education. Each track aligns with Kentucky Rank II salary advancement — a significant financial incentive in Kentucky’s compensation structure.
The MEd in Teacher Leader serves a similar Rank II function but is designed for teachers who want to advance their practice and pay without leaving the classroom.
Three MEd in Instructional Leadership variants (literacy, gifted education, and special education) provide endorsement-focused pathways for teachers seeking specialization credentials. These are fully online and follow the same $250 per credit rate.
The MA in Education — School Counseling P-12 is a 48-credit program that leads to school counseling certification and requires field experience hours, making it partially in-person. It’s a meaningful option for educators pivoting to school counseling roles.
A key consideration for all of UC’s education programs: they are not CAEP-accredited (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation). CAEP accreditation is increasingly expected by some states and districts. UC’s programs are regionally accredited through SACSCOC and approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, but the absence of CAEP may matter for students in states that prioritize or require it. If you’re exploring online master’s in education more broadly, the subject hub provides a wider view of what’s available across institutions.
UC’s business cluster includes the MBA, an MS in Management and Leadership, and an MS in Accounting — all accredited by IACBE and priced at $7,500 total. The MBA is the centerpiece, offering eight concentration options (accounting, digital marketing, healthcare management, human resource management, organizational leadership, project management, supply chain management and logistics, and a general track) that allow students to tailor the degree toward specific career goals.
At $250 per credit for 30 credits, UC’s MBA is one of the least expensive in the country — from any institution, public or private. The GMAT is waived for most applicants, and rolling admissions means there’s no competitive application cycle to navigate. The practical question is whether IACBE accreditation meets your needs. For many mid-career professionals seeking a credential and structured business knowledge, it does. For students in industries or organizations that specifically require or screen for AACSB accreditation — which includes some large consulting firms, investment banks, and certain government positions — UC’s MBA will not satisfy that requirement.
The MS in Accounting positions students for CPA exam preparation, which is valuable for those who need additional graduate credits to meet the 150-hour requirement common in most states. The MS in Management and Leadership is a generalist credential for professionals seeking to formalize leadership skills without the broader MBA curriculum.
For a wider comparison of online master’s in business programs across different price points and accreditation types, the OMC business subject hub maps the full landscape.
UC’s IT and cybersecurity programs are arguably its most distinctive offerings outside of education. The MS in Information Technology alone offers more than a dozen concentrations — application development, big data analytics, blockchain, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, digital forensics, health informatics, information systems security, IT management, IT project management, and software engineering — all within a single 30-credit, $7,500 degree framework. The sheer concentration breadth gives students an unusual degree of specialization control at a price point that most competitors can’t match.
The dedicated MS in Information Systems Security and MS in Digital Forensics programs further deepen UC’s cybersecurity portfolio. Critically, UC holds designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) from the NSA and DHS — a credential that signals federal-level confidence in the curriculum’s rigor and alignment with national cybersecurity education standards. Among private universities at UC’s price point, this designation is rare.
These programs are fully online and asynchronous, with no in-person requirements. They’re designed for working IT professionals who need to upskill or add credentials without pausing their careers. The main limitation is that UC’s programs don’t carry the same employer recognition as cybersecurity degrees from institutions like Georgia Tech or Carnegie Mellon — but they cost a fraction of those alternatives, and the NSA/DHS designation provides a credibility anchor that purely budget-priced programs often lack.
If you’re comparing options across the full online master’s in cybersecurity landscape, UC’s combination of price, concentration variety, and federal designation makes it a strong contender in the value tier.
UC offers two distinct programs in the psychology and counseling space, and the difference between them matters significantly for career outcomes.
The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is UC’s flagship counseling program and one of its highest-value offerings. It’s accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) — the standard accreditation that most state licensing boards require or strongly prefer for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) eligibility. The program runs 60 credits and costs approximately $15,000 total, which is dramatically below the national average for CACREP-accredited programs. Two concentration options — addictions counseling and marriage and family therapy — allow additional specialization. The program requires practicum and internship hours (600+ clinical hours total), meaning it is not fully online; students need to arrange local placements. This is standard for any legitimate counseling licensure-track program.
The MS in Clinical Psychology is a different animal entirely. It’s a 36-credit, fully online program that does not lead to licensure by itself. It’s designed as a foundation for students who plan to continue into doctoral study in psychology or who want graduate-level psychology knowledge for research, applied, or adjacent career purposes. Students should not enroll expecting to become licensed clinicians with this degree alone.
This distinction — licensure-track vs. non-licensure — is the most important decision point in this subject area. If licensure is the goal, the CACREP-accredited CMHC program is the one to pursue. The broader online master’s in psychology subject hub covers the full range of licensure-track and non-licensure options across institutions.
UC’s healthcare cluster includes four programs with meaningfully different structures, costs, and admissions models — and one of them operates on an entirely different paradigm from the rest of the university’s online offerings.
The MS in Physician Assistant Studies is UC’s most selective and expensive program. It is ARC-PA accredited, requires the GRE, uses a cohort-based annual admissions cycle (not rolling), and mandates in-person clinical rotations. It is a hybrid program, not fully online, and its admissions standards are dramatically higher than UC’s other graduate programs. Students considering the PA program should evaluate it on its own merits, separate from UC’s general online master’s model.
The remaining healthcare programs follow UC’s standard model. The Master of Health Sciences (36 credits, $9,000) is a generalist health sciences degree for professionals seeking advancement in healthcare administration, education, or related fields. The MS in Public Health (42 credits, $10,500) offers a broader public health curriculum. The MS in Health and Human Performance (30 credits, $7,500) serves fitness, wellness, and performance professionals. All three are fully online, rolling admissions, no GRE required.
None of UC’s fully online healthcare programs carry programmatic accreditation from bodies like CEPH (public health) or CAHME (healthcare management). For many career paths this isn’t a barrier, but students in fields where programmatic accreditation influences hiring or licensure should verify their state or industry’s requirements before enrolling.
UC’s remaining online master’s programs don’t form large subject clusters, but each fills a specific niche.
The MS in Justice Administration — Criminal Justice is a 30-credit, fully online program designed for law enforcement professionals, corrections officers, and criminal justice administrators seeking management-level credentials. At $7,500 total, it’s competitively priced against most online criminal justice master’s programs. It doesn’t carry specialized programmatic accreditation, but for professionals already working in the field who need a graduate credential for promotion, the combination of low cost and rolling admissions makes it a practical option.
The MS in Environmental Science is an unusual offering in UC’s catalog — it’s one of the few fully online environmental science master’s programs at any institution, and it reflects the university’s Appalachian setting and connections to environmental and natural resource issues in the region. At $7,500, it’s a low-risk option for environmental professionals who need a master’s for career advancement.
The MA in English is a 30-credit, fully online graduate program in English studies. It’s suited to current English teachers seeking a master’s for salary advancement, community college instructors, or students considering future doctoral work in English or related humanities fields.
All three programs follow UC’s standard format: $250 per credit, rolling admissions, 8-week terms, no GRE required, fully asynchronous.
Looking across UC’s full online master’s portfolio, the institutional investment pattern is clear: education is the foundation, IT/cybersecurity is the growth engine, counseling is the prestige anchor (via CACREP), and business is the volume play. The university has deliberately built a wide but shallow catalog — many programs with modest credit requirements and a shared per-credit price — rather than investing in a narrow set of deeply resourced, research-intensive degrees.
What UC does not offer online is telling. There are no engineering programs, no nursing or MSN pathways, no social work (MSW) program, no public administration (MPA), and no communication or media studies degrees. The university’s STEM footprint beyond IT is minimal. This means that UC is not trying to be a comprehensive graduate research institution — it’s built to serve professional credential seekers in specific applied fields at the lowest possible cost.
For students whose goals align with UC’s strengths — education advancement, affordable IT credentials, licensure-track counseling, or a low-cost MBA — the portfolio delivers. For students who need programs outside these clusters, or who need the kind of faculty research engagement and programmatic accreditation depth that comes with higher-cost institutions, UC’s catalog will feel limited by design.
How University of the Cumberlands Compares
UC competes in a specific market segment: affordable, accessible, often faith-based online master’s education for working professionals. The comparison table below maps UC against four institutions that share parts of this territory — Liberty University , Western Governors University , Southern New Hampshire University , and Grand Canyon University — on the dimensions that actually drive online master’s decisions.
| Dimension | UC | Liberty | WGU | SNHU | GCU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approx. Tuition per Credit | $250 | $565 | ~$3,750/6-mo term | $627 | $550–$700 |
| Typical Total Cost (30-cr program) | $7,500 | $16,950 | $3,750–$7,500 | $18,810 | $16,500–$21,000 |
| Program Breadth (Online Master’s) | 50+ programs | 100+ programs | 30+ programs | 100+ programs | 60+ programs |
| Learning Model | Async, 8-week terms | Async, 8-week terms | Competency-based, self-paced | Async, 8-week terms | Async, 7.5-week terms |
| Faith Integration | Baptist-affiliated, integrated into coursework | Christian, integrated into coursework | Secular | Secular (nonprofit) | Christian (interdenominational), integrated |
| Brand Recognition | Regional (Appalachian/Southeast) | National | National | National | National |
| Admissions Accessibility | Rolling, no GRE/GMAT | Rolling, no GRE/GMAT | Rolling, no GRE/GMAT | Rolling, no GRE/GMAT | Rolling, no GRE/GMAT |
| Notable Accreditations | IACBE (business), CACREP (counseling), NSA CAE-CD (cyber) | ACBSP (business), CACREP (counseling) | ACBSP (business), CCNE (nursing) | ACBSP (business) | ACBSP (business), CCNE (nursing) |
Key takeaways from this comparison:
- Where UC wins: UC’s per-credit cost is the lowest in this group for traditional credit-hour programs, and it’s competitive even with WGU’s flat-rate model for students who complete at a normal pace. UC’s CACREP counseling program is among the cheapest in the country. The NSA/DHS cyber defense designation adds a credential layer that Liberty and GCU lack. And UC’s faith integration is more embedded in the curriculum than GCU’s broader interdenominational approach.
- Where competitors are stronger: Liberty and SNHU have dramatically larger program catalogs and much stronger national brand recognition — Liberty’s name recognition among faith-based employers is particularly strong. WGU’s competency-based model allows fast completers to finish for less money overall, and its IT programs carry substantial employer recognition in tech. SNHU offers the nonprofit credential and secular environment that some employers and students prefer. GCU provides a larger campus network and more robust student services infrastructure.
- The core tradeoff: UC gives you the lowest sticker price in a traditional credit-hour format with faith integration and rolling access. What you trade is brand recognition, program depth in fields like nursing and social work, and the kind of institutional resources (career services, alumni networks, employer partnerships) that larger competitors invest in. For students comparing faith-based options specifically, UC undercuts both Liberty and GCU significantly on cost. For students open to secular options, WGU and SNHU offer different value propositions — WGU on speed-to-completion, SNHU on brand and breadth.
- Regent University is another faith-based peer worth examining if your interests lean toward law, government, or communication — areas where Regent invests more heavily than UC.
Best For
University of the Cumberlands’ online master’s programs serve specific student profiles well. If you see yourself in one or more of the descriptions below, UC is worth serious consideration.
- Working professionals who need the lowest possible total cost for a master’s degree from a private university. At $7,500 for most 30-credit programs, UC’s pricing undercuts most private competitors — and many public universities’ out-of-state rates. If minimizing total student debt is your primary constraint, UC delivers.
- Students who want Christian faith integration in their graduate education — not just at a cultural level, but in the curriculum. UC’s Baptist affiliation shapes course content, ethical frameworks, and institutional expectations. Students who find this meaningful will experience it as a genuine feature, not a marketing overlay.
- Career changers and non-traditional students who need accessible admissions. No GRE, no GMAT, rolling start dates every eight weeks, and relatively modest GPA requirements mean that UC removes many of the barriers that block working adults from starting graduate programs. If you’ve been out of school for years and want a low-friction entry point, UC’s admissions model is designed for you.
- Kentucky educators seeking Rank II salary advancement. UC’s MEd programs are specifically built to satisfy Kentucky’s Rank II certification requirements, which translate directly into pay raises. For teachers already working in Kentucky’s public school system, UC offers one of the cheapest and most flexible pathways to that credential.
- IT and cybersecurity professionals who want affordable, concentration-rich programs with a federal quality marker. The MS in Information Technology’s dozen-plus concentrations, the dedicated cybersecurity and digital forensics degrees, and the NSA/DHS CAE-CD designation create a compelling package for IT professionals who want specialization at low cost.
- Students who need a CACREP-accredited counseling program without the typical $30,000–$60,000 price tag. UC’s clinical mental health counseling program is one of the most affordable CACREP-accredited options in the country. For aspiring LPCs who are cost-sensitive, this is a standout value.
Not a Best Fit For
UC is not the right choice for every student, and being clear about that helps you avoid a mismatch.
Students who need AACSB-accredited business programs. UC’s business programs carry IACBE accreditation — legitimate but not equivalent to AACSB. If your employer, industry, or career target specifically requires or screens for AACSB, UC’s MBA will not satisfy that requirement. This matters particularly in financial services, large consulting firms, and certain government roles.
Students seeking national brand prestige. UC is regionally known in Appalachia and the Southeast, but it does not carry the national brand recognition that institutions like Arizona State University , Purdue University , or even large-scale online players like SNHU have built. If your resume needs to signal institutional prestige to employers, UC won’t provide that.
Students who want a secular academic environment. UC’s faith integration is not optional or peripheral — it’s embedded in institutional culture and coursework. Students who prefer an academic environment free from religious framing will find UC’s approach uncomfortable or misaligned with their expectations.
Research-oriented students. UC is a teaching-focused institution with limited research infrastructure at the master’s level. There are no funded research assistantships, no active research labs accepting master’s students, and no significant publication expectations built into most programs. Students who need a research pathway to doctoral study should consider research-intensive universities instead.
Students who need CAEP-accredited education programs. UC’s education programs are approved by Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board and regionally accredited via SACSCOC, but they do not carry CAEP accreditation. Some states and districts increasingly prefer or require CAEP-accredited preparation programs, and students in those states should verify their board’s requirements before enrolling.
Out-of-state students who need guaranteed teacher certification reciprocity. UC’s education programs are aligned with Kentucky licensure standards. While many states have some degree of reciprocity, it is not automatic or guaranteed. Students in states with strict or non-reciprocal certification requirements should contact their state licensing board before committing to UC’s MAT or education programs.
Admissions Snapshot
UC’s admissions process is designed around accessibility and speed. Here’s what applicants need to know.
Rolling admissions with frequent start dates. New 8-week terms begin approximately every eight weeks throughout the year, giving students six or more entry points annually. There is no competitive application cycle, and decisions are typically returned within days of submitting a complete application.
General requirements for most programs:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Official transcripts
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 (some programs require 3.0)
- No GRE or GMAT required
- Completed online application
Program-specific exceptions: The MS in Physician Assistant Studies operates on an entirely different admissions model — annual cohort-based admissions, GRE required, healthcare prerequisite coursework, clinical experience hours, and significantly higher GPA expectations. The PA program should be evaluated as a selective graduate health program, not as a typical UC online master’s program.
The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MA in Education — School Counseling P-12 may require additional materials such as personal statements, letters of recommendation, or background checks related to field placement requirements. These programs are open-admissions in terms of GRE but have some additional screening related to clinical or school-based placement readiness.
What to expect after applying: For standard programs, UC’s admissions team aims to process applications quickly — many students receive decisions within one to two weeks. The enrollment process includes transcript evaluation, academic advising, and course registration, all handled through dedicated enrollment counselors who guide students from application to first class.
Tuition and Cost Overview
UC’s pricing model is one of the simplest in online graduate education: most programs charge a flat rate of approximately $250 per credit hour, with no differentiation between in-state and out-of-state students. The total cost of a degree depends primarily on the number of credit hours required.
| Program Cluster | Typical Credits | Tuition per Credit | Estimated Total Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA / MS in Business programs | 30 | $250 | $7,500 |
| MEd programs (Educational Leadership, Teacher Leader, Instructional Leadership) | 30 | $250 | $7,500 |
| Master of Arts in Teaching | 36 | $250 | $9,000 |
| MA in Education — School Counseling P-12 | 48 | $250 | $12,000 |
| MS in Information Technology / Cybersecurity / Digital Forensics | 30 | $250 | $7,500 |
| MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 60 | $250 | $15,000 |
| MS in Clinical Psychology | 36 | $250 | $9,000 |
| MS in Public Health | 42 | $250 | $10,500 |
| Master of Health Sciences | 36 | $250 | $9,000 |
| MS in Health and Human Performance / Criminal Justice / Environmental Science / English | 30 | $250 | $7,500 |
| MS in Physician Assistant Studies | Varies | Varies | Contact university |
These figures represent tuition only. Additional costs may include technology fees, textbook and course materials, background check fees (for clinical programs), and graduation fees. UC does not charge a per-semester comprehensive fee at the scale that many universities do, which keeps total out-of-pocket costs relatively predictable.
How UC’s cost compares: At $250 per credit, UC undercuts Liberty University (approximately $565/credit) and Grand Canyon University ($550–$700/credit) by a wide margin. It’s competitive with Western Governors University , though WGU’s flat-rate term model can be cheaper for fast completers. Among private institutions using traditional credit-hour pricing, UC sits at or near the bottom of the national cost spectrum.
Financial aid and scholarships: UC participates in federal financial aid programs (FAFSA eligible), and some employer tuition reimbursement programs cover UC’s tuition. The university offers institutional scholarships for some graduate programs, though the low base tuition means scholarship impact is proportionally small. Military and veteran benefits are accepted.
For students benchmarking UC’s costs against the broader market, the most affordable online master’s programs ranking provides a cross-institutional cost comparison.
Visit University of the Cumberlands official online programs page
Related Rankings
If you’re evaluating UC, these OMC rankings put its programs in a broader competitive context.
- Most Affordable Online Master’s Programs — UC’s per-credit pricing places it among the most affordable options nationally. This ranking shows how it stacks up against both public and private alternatives.
- Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity — UC’s NSA/DHS CAE-CD designation and concentration breadth make its cybersecurity programs relevant to this ranking. See how the program compares against larger and more expensive alternatives.
- Best Online Master’s in Education — UC’s deep education pipeline — from MAT through multiple MEd tracks — maps directly to this ranking for students comparing teacher preparation and educational leadership options.
- Best Accredited Online Master’s Programs — For students prioritizing accreditation quality and institutional legitimacy, this ranking provides a framework for evaluating UC’s SACSCOC regional accreditation and programmatic credentials alongside peer institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. University of the Cumberlands is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Regional accreditation is the highest institutional accreditation tier in the U.S. and is recognized by all major employers, licensing boards, and other universities for credit transfer and graduate admissions purposes.
No — the vast majority of UC’s online master’s programs do not require the GRE or GMAT. The primary exception is the MS in Physician Assistant Studies, which requires the GRE as part of its selective admissions process. For the MBA, GMAT waivers are standard. If you’re applying to any program other than PA studies, expect no standardized test requirement.
Most online master’s programs at UC charge approximately $250 per credit hour. Total costs range from about $7,500 for 30-credit programs (MBA, most MEd programs, IT, cybersecurity, criminal justice) to approximately $15,000 for the 60-credit MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The PA program has a separate, higher cost structure. Additional fees for technology, books, and program-specific requirements apply but are generally modest compared to tuition.
Most UC online master’s programs are fully asynchronous — you complete coursework on your own schedule within each 8-week term, with no live class meetings required. The exceptions are programs that include clinical, practicum, or field experience components: the Master of Arts in Teaching (student teaching), MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (practicum and internship), MA in Education — School Counseling (field experience), and MS in Physician Assistant Studies (clinical rotations). These programs have in-person requirements that cannot be completed online.
Yes. UC’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This is the recognized standard for counseling program quality in the U.S. and is required or preferred by most state licensing boards for LPC eligibility. At approximately $15,000 total, it is one of the most affordable CACREP-accredited counseling programs available.
Most 30-credit programs can be completed in 12 to 24 months depending on course load. Programs with higher credit requirements take longer: the 48-credit school counseling program typically runs 18–30 months, and the 60-credit clinical mental health counseling program takes 24–36 months. UC’s 8-week term structure and rolling admissions mean you can start quickly and maintain a steady pace year-round without waiting for traditional semester start dates.
UC is a strong value option for IT and cybersecurity graduate education. The MS in Information Technology offers more than a dozen concentrations, and the university holds NSA/DHS designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) — a credential that signals federal-level curriculum rigor. At $7,500 total for 30-credit programs, UC’s IT and cybersecurity degrees are among the most affordable with this level of federal recognition. The tradeoff is that UC doesn’t carry the brand prestige of larger tech-focused institutions, which may matter for some employers.
Yes, to some degree. UC is affiliated with the Baptist tradition, and its Christian mission is reflected in institutional culture, ethical frameworks within coursework, and the overall learning community. This does not mean that programs are theology courses — business, IT, education, and other programs cover their professional content fully — but Christian ethical perspectives are integrated into the academic experience. Students should expect a faith-informed environment. Those who prefer a secular academic setting should consider alternatives like Southern New Hampshire University or Western Governors University .