Union Commonwealth University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Barbourville, Kentucky. It enrolls 746 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
49/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes9
Value19
Affordability66
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 63.2%, Union Commonwealth University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
63.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Union Commonwealth University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Union Commonwealth University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,311 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,311
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
53%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$30,946
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,261
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,261
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,100
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,322
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,214
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,368
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,774
$75,001 – $110,000
$44,322
Over $110,000
$44,322
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$24,250Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,750
↓ $9,500
No Pell $12,500
↓ $11,750
Dependent students $14,750
↓ $9,500
Independent students $12,500
↓ $11,750
Female students $15,500
↓ $8,750
Male students $12,250
↓ $12,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,375, less than completers ($24,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at Union Commonwealth University graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Union Commonwealth University earn a median of $42,002 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,002
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,300, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
23.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Union Commonwealth University is home to 746 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
746
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.3%368
Black 18.4%137
International 18.4%137
Other 6.8%51
Hispanic 3.8%28
Asian 0.5%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Union Commonwealth University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBarbourville, Kentucky
Housing
Mostly residential358 beds on campus
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Union Commonwealth University offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Union Commonwealth University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$55M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$45,679
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
48 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
13
27%
$46,565
Associate Professors
13
27%
$44,055
Assistant Professors
19
40%
$46,594
Instructors
3
6%
$43,088
Pros & Cons of Union Commonwealth University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Union Commonwealth University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Union Commonwealth University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Union Commonwealth University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Union Commonwealth University.
Is Union Commonwealth University hard to get into?
Admissions at Union Commonwealth University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 63.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Union Commonwealth University?
Union Commonwealth University has an acceptance rate of 63.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Union Commonwealth University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Union Commonwealth University scored between 15 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Union Commonwealth University cost?
The average net price after aid at Union Commonwealth University is $21,311 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Union Commonwealth University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,002 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,311 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Union Commonwealth University known for?
Union Commonwealth University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Union Commonwealth University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Union Commonwealth University are $42,002, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Union Commonwealth University accredited?
Yes. Union Commonwealth University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Union Commonwealth University?
Union Commonwealth University enrolls 746 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Union Commonwealth University?
Union Commonwealth University graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Union Commonwealth University a public or private college?
Union Commonwealth University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Union Commonwealth University located?
Union Commonwealth University is located in Barbourville, Kentucky.
What programs does Union Commonwealth University offer?
Union Commonwealth University offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Union Commonwealth University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Union Commonwealth University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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