Cumberlands announces tuition freeze for 2018/19 academic year

WILLIAMSBURG, KY. (WTVQ)- For the third year in a row, the University of the Cumberlands (UC) will freeze tuition costs for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Despite other schools across the state raising tuition because of state budget cuts and lower enrollment, UC tuition will remain steady.

Of the two private universities in the state, UC is the only one so far to freeze tuition for the upcoming academic year and a third year in a row.

Financial issues have led to extreme budget cuts within public universities and in have led to the cutting of programs and staff in some instances.

Community colleges have also seen an increase in tuition due to state budget cuts.

On average, tuition at Kentucky’s public colleges and universities increased 3.9 percent in the 2018 academic cycle.

In the past 5 years, tuition and fee rates for public and private universities in Kentucky have risen up as high as 30 percent.

Budget issues and dropping enrollment have not had the same impact of the University of the Cumberlands like it has public institutions; online enrollment has actually increased, which has also led to the addition of programs at the university.

Tuition for private colleges in Kentucky averages $27,400 per year while the Cumberlands’ annual tuition is nearly $5,000 less.

About 55 percent of UC’s undergraduate students are from Kentucky and almost 50 percent are first-generation college students.

The University awarded more than $33 million in financial aid last year and has recently introduced a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) in addition to the tuition freeze to further help students.

Around 97 percent of undergraduates receive some type of financial aid from UC.

The University of the Cumberlands is located in Williamsburg, Kentucky and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and online degree programs.

Learn more at ucumberlands.edu.