University of the Cumberlands
University of the Cumberlands is a private, nonprofit Kentucky university founded in 1888, serving 20,000+ students across on-campus, online, and multi-city hybrid executive programs in business, education, IT, and ministry.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1888
- HeadquartersWilliamsburg, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What University of the Cumberlands does
University of the Cumberlands is a private, nonprofit institution founded in 1888 and headquartered in Williamsburg, Kentucky, serving more than 20,000 students across on-campus, fully online, and hybrid executive formats. It offers 55+ undergraduate majors and pre-professional programs, a range of graduate degrees in business, education, healthcare, IT, counseling, criminal justice, and ministry, plus executive-format master's and doctoral programs delivered through periodic residency sessions in seven U.S. cities (Dallas, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Newark/NYC, Northern Kentucky, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.). Specialized graduate certificates in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Digital Forensics supplement the portfolio, and the institution is launching Kentucky's first online undergraduate AI degree in Summer 2026.
Academic delivery rests on a Blackboard/iLearn LMS, a Workday-based student information system branded as myUC, the e2Campus emergency notification system, and a UC Safety mobile app. Programmatic differentiators include the One Price Promise — a flat-rate all-inclusive tuition covering tuition, textbooks, housing, dining, parking, fees, counseling, health, library access, and technology — and an Applied Learning Practicum embedded in executive programs.
Monetization is tuition-driven across a tiered schedule: $19,175/year for on-campus undergraduates (or $9,875 without housing), $220/credit hour for standard graduate courses, $355/credit hour for certificates, $549/credit hour for executive master's, and $749/credit hour for executive doctoral programs; room and board are bundled into the undergraduate price and administered financial aid (federal Title IV, state aid, institutional scholarships) layers on top. Go-to-market combines product-led acquisition through transparent pricing, dedicated transfer-student enrollment counselors, military-student recruitment, and field-led executive enrollment across multiple U.S. metros. Recognitions include Forbes #2 online DBA, #1 Executive PhD in Business, a KY College of Distinction designation, Top 10 Military Friendly, and the NSA/CAE-CD designation for the Digital Forensics program.
University of the Cumberlands firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of the Cumberlands
- Legal name
- University of the Cumberlands
- Website
- https://ucumberlands.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1888
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- University of the Cumberlands is a private, nonprofit Kentucky university founded in 1888, serving 20,000+ students across on-campus, online, and multi-city hybrid executive programs in business, education, IT, and ministry.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of the Cumberlands industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)
Keywords
Where University of the Cumberlands is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Williamsburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
University of the Cumberlands business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition charges per credit hour for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Revenue varies by program level with executive doctoral programs commanding premium rates.
- Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services provided as part of student residential experience, included in One Price Promise.
- Financial Aid Administration: University administers federal Title IV funds, state financial aid, and institutional scholarships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | On-Campus Undergraduate: $19,175 or less per year (without housing $9,875) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Graduate Programs: $220 per credit hour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Graduate Certificate Programs: $355 per credit hour (average program cost) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Executive Master's Programs: $549 per credit hour |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Executive Doctoral Programs: $749 per credit hour |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
University of the Cumberlands product offering
Product offeringCore offering
University of the Cumberlands is a private, nonprofit higher education institution offering undergraduate degrees (55+ majors), graduate degrees, executive-format hybrid master's and doctoral programs, and graduate certificate programs. Programs are delivered on-campus in Williamsburg and Northern Kentucky, fully online, and through executive hybrid residencies across multiple U.S. cities. The university markets its One Price Promise all-inclusive tuition model covering tuition, textbooks, housing, dining, and student services in a single transparent price.
Product overview
University of the Cumberlands is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across undergraduate, graduate, executive, and certificate levels. The institution's flagship initiatives include the One Price Promise, which bundles tuition with essential student services (textbooks, housing, dining, counseling, etc.) at a transparent flat rate, and the Cumberlands Commitment accessibility initiative. The academic portfolio spans over 55 undergraduate majors, diverse graduate programs in business, healthcare, IT, education and ministry, executive-format hybrid degrees with residency components, and specialized technology certificates including AI, Data Science, and Digital Forensics. The institution is notably launching Kentucky's first online undergraduate AI degree program in summer 2026, building on existing graduate and doctoral AI offerings. Its online Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) has been nationally ranked #2 by Forbes. Programs serve both on-campus and online students, with executive programs offering residency locations across multiple U.S. cities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- One Price Promise: An innovative tuition model that includes tuition, books, academic resources, parking, dining, housing, counseling services, student health, library access, and technology fees in one transparent price.
- The Cumberlands Commitment
Products and services
- One Price Promise A comprehensive tuition program bundling all essential student services including free textbooks, parking, dining, housing, laundry, counseling, student health, library access, and technology fees into a single transparent flat-rate price for undergraduate on-campus students.
- Executive Programs Hybrid graduate and doctoral degree programs combining online coursework with periodic in-person residency experiences. Programs include Business Administration, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Leadership, and Project Management, with residency locations across Dallas, Detroit, Newark, Northern Kentucky, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.
- Certificate Programs Graduate-level 12-credit-hour online certificate programs including Artificial Intelligence Certificate, Data Science Certificate, and Digital Forensics Certificate, providing specialized career-focused training in high-demand technology fields.
- Online Undergraduate AI Degree Program Kentucky's first online undergraduate artificial intelligence degree program launching summer 2026, providing accessible AI education at the undergraduate level for students seeking careers in AI and related technology fields.
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) An online Doctor of Business Administration program ranked #2 nationally by Forbes among accredited, nonprofit institutions, based on affordability, credibility, student outcomes, and overall experience.
- Graduate Certificate in Digital Forensics A fully online, 12-credit-hour graduate certificate program combining advanced IT skills with criminal justice principles, covering digital evidence identification, analysis, and preservation for criminal investigations including electronic fraud, identity theft, online scams, and data breaches. Holds CAE-CD designation.
- Graduate Certificate in Data Science A 12-credit-hour graduate-level online certificate program covering machine learning, data analytics, visualization, and statistical modeling, with all credits transferable to the 31-credit Master of Science in Data Science program.
- Graduate Programs Graduate degree programs across disciplines including Business, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, Human Services, Information Technology, Leadership, Medical Science, Ministry, and Nursing, available in on-campus and online formats.
- Undergraduate Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,224 transfer students received - more than any other private school in Kentucky
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use University of the Cumberlands
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
University of the Cumberlands technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
University of the Cumberlands partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University of the Cumberlands competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Northern Kentucky University: Public Kentucky regional university located in the same Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati metro as Cumberlands' Florence campus; competes directly for transfer students and regional adult learners.
- Eastern Kentucky University: Public Kentucky regional university offering online undergraduate and graduate programs; competes with Cumberlands for in-state online students and transfer pathways.
- Morehead State University: Public Kentucky regional university with online programs and similar Appalachian Kentucky footprint; competes with Cumberlands for regional undergraduates and transfer students.
Direct peers
- Western Governors University: Large nonprofit online university focused on workforce-aligned degrees at flat tuition; competes head-on with Cumberlands in online MBA/graduate programs and similar affordability messaging to working adults.
- Southern New Hampshire University: Nonprofit university with a massive online division serving 100,000+ online students; directly comparable to Cumberlands' online undergraduate and graduate portfolio and pricing model.
- Liberty University Online: Large private nonprofit with extensive online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs including a DBA; competes with Cumberlands for online working professionals and military students.
- Purdue University Global: Online-focused nonprofit institution affiliated with Purdue offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs; overlaps with Cumberlands in working-adult and online graduate markets.
- Grand Canyon University: For-profit-turned-nonprofit university with large online ground and graduate programs, including doctoral offerings; competes on affordability and Christian-affiliated brand positioning in online adult education.
Emerging players
- University of the People: Tuition-free, accredited nonprofit online university targeting cost-sensitive global learners; an emerging competitor in the affordable-online segment where Cumberlands' One Price Promise competes.
Broad incumbents
- University of Phoenix: Large for-profit incumbent historically serving working adults with online degrees; broader portfolio but overlapping customer base with Cumberlands' online undergraduate and graduate programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of the Cumberlands social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of the Cumberlands financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of the Cumberlands leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
University of the Cumberlands funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of the Cumberlands M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of the Cumberlands
What does University of the Cumberlands do?
University of the Cumberlands is a private, nonprofit higher education institution offering undergraduate degrees (55+ majors), graduate degrees, executive-format hybrid master's and doctoral programs, and graduate certificate programs. Programs are delivered on-campus in Williamsburg and Northern Kentucky, fully online, and through executive hybrid residencies across multiple U.S. cities. The university markets its One Price Promise all-inclusive tuition model covering tuition, textbooks, housing, dining, and student services in a single transparent price.
Is University of the Cumberlands a public or private company?
University of the Cumberlands is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was University of the Cumberlands founded?
University of the Cumberlands was founded in 1888. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is University of the Cumberlands based?
University of the Cumberlands is headquartered in Williamsburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of the Cumberlands make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are room and Board and financial Aid Administration.
Who are University of the Cumberlands's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Northern Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University and Morehead State University. Direct peers are Western Governors University, Southern New Hampshire University, Liberty University Online, Purdue University Global and Grand Canyon University. University of the People is listed as an emerging player. University of Phoenix is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does University of the Cumberlands have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of the Cumberlands.
What industry is University of the Cumberlands in?
University of the Cumberlands's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHALAB, Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension), with a secondary code of EDAHALAK, Online Nonprofit Universities. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.