Admit rate has ranged 53%–57% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Union Commonwealth University in Barbourville, KY, is a small, private liberal arts college with a tight-knit Appalachian vibe and a pragmatic approach to affordability—100% of undergrads receive aid. While its 36% six-year graduation rate lags behind national averages, its hands-on programs in business, nursing, and kinesiology attract students drawn to its intimate 14:1 student-faculty ratio and rural campus culture.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
746
In-state tuition
$30,946
Out-of-state tuition
$30,946
Location
Barbourville, KY
Acceptance Rate
56–63%
Most Popular Majors
Business, Kinesiology, Nursing
Student-Faculty Ratio
14:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
35–36%
Avg Financial Aid Package
$26,961
Median Alumni Earnings (6 yrs)
$36,529
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$42,002
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.0×
Median debt at graduation
$24,250
Graduation rate
32%
First-year retention
64%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
47%
Pell (lower-income) share
72%
First-generation share
41%
Endowment / student
$42,203
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$56,415
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$29,685
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$24,035
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
94
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
33°F
Annual rain
53.5"
Annual snow
7.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Union Commonwealth University?
Union Commonwealth University's acceptance rate is approximately 63% (Barbourville, KY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Union Commonwealth University cost?
At Union Commonwealth University, the average net price (after aid) is about $21,311 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Union Commonwealth University?
Union Commonwealth University enrolls approximately 746 undergraduate students.
Where is Union Commonwealth University located?
Union Commonwealth University is located in Barbourville, KY.
Admissions
Union Commonwealth University is somewhat selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 43.7% to 64% across sources, though most cluster around 56–63%. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 920–1110 on the SAT or 475–558 on the SAT (old scale) (or ACT scores around 31). Notably, 59% of enrollees submit test scores, suggesting a Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. trend. The average admitted student has a high school GPA of 3.7, and the school emphasizes accessibility—freshman applications surged 75% in 2024, signaling growing interest.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Union blends liberal arts foundations with career-ready programs, most notably in business (34 graduates), kinesiology (32), nursing (29), and liberal arts (21). The 14:1 student-faculty ratio supports close mentorship, though the 59% freshman retention rate hints at academic or social challenges. With just 737 undergrads, classes are small, and the curriculum leans interdisciplinary, integrating humanities with STEM fields like biology and actuarial science. The school promotes hands-on learning through internships and community engagement, but its graduate offerings stop at the master’s level.
Life at Union revolves around its Appalachian identity and small-campus intimacy—students describe a 'family-like atmosphere' where everyone knows each other. With 737 undergrads (fall 2023), activities are modest but tight-knit: a student newspaper, radio station, and TV station anchor campus media, while clubs span musical groups and academic committees. The rural Barbourville setting leans into local heritage, with spiritual and physical wellness woven into campus culture. Social media highlights flexible student support, including scholarships and campus improvements, though Greek life isn’t prominently cited.
Union’s outcomes are a mixed bag: its six-year graduation rate is just 35–36%, ranking in the bottom 15% of peer institutions, and only 61% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Alumni earn a median $36,529 six years post-enrollment—16% below the national median. However, the school touts a 96.8% employment/graduate school rate (though methodology isn’t detailed), and 2024 saw a 75% spike in freshman commitments, suggesting renewed momentum. Notably, 40% of students transfer out, pointing to potential fit issues.
Union’s all-in price hovers around $90,369, but 100% of undergrads receive aid, slashing the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost.. The average aid package is $26,961, with $19,794 from institutional grants and $6,810 from Pell Grants. After aid, the average net price covers ~79% of tuition, making Union a relative bargain among private colleges. Kentucky state grants ($7,258) and federal aid ($6,873) further cushion costs, though the school’s low graduation rates may affect long-term ROI.
Union Commonwealth University carves a niche as a hyper-affordable, relationship-driven college in Appalachia, where every student gets aid and faculty know undergrads by name. Its hands-on nursing and business programs punch above their weight, and the 75% surge in 2024 applications signals growing appeal. Yet its rock-bottom graduation rates and subpar alumni earnings underscore a trade-off: low upfront costs may come at the price of long-term outcomes. For students seeking a close-knit, rural college experience with minimal debt, Union delivers—but it demands self-advocacy to navigate its academic gaps.
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