The University of the Cumberlands will cut tuition costs by 57 percent starting next fall, according to an announcement on Tuesday.
Starting in the 2019-2020 academic year, tuition will drop from $23,000 to $9,875 for all on-campus undergraduate students. School officials said that will be the lowest tuition of an private university in Kentucky and will be comparable to every public four-year institution in the state.
They are calling it the Cumberlands Committment.
“We are making this change because we are committed to putting our students and families first by addressing the most significant hurdle to a college education, affordability,” said Cumberlands President, Dr. Larry L. Cockrum. “We want all students to know that with Cumberlands there is a clear and affordable path to a college degree.”
Cumberlands is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, in Whitley County, off I-75 just north of the Tennessee state line. Currently, 82 percent of the school's students come from the Appalachian region.
“The Cumberlands Commitment we’re making today means that out of pocket costs will not increase for any of our students,” said Cockrum. “We will continue to work each and everyday to make tuition affordable to anyone who has dreams of higher education and greater opportunity.”
Under the tuition reduction plan, the average incoming student is expected to save nearly $3,200, totaling $12,800 over their college career.
Cockrum also wanted to make clear that there will be no cuts to programs or services provided to students, and no reduction in faculty or staff.
The University began the 2018 fall term with 1,366 students on campus. They offer undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online degree programs.
