About the cumberlands commitment
What is the cumberlands Commitment?
The Cumberlands Commitment is the university’s initiative to make a quality college degree affordable and accessible for students from all backgrounds. In 2018, the university launched the Cumberlands Commitment by lowering tuition for on-campus undergraduate students by 57 percent. In 2019, the university provided those same students with free textbooks. In 2023, the university announced the One Price Promise, which provides free textbooks to all students while eliminating all other costs and establishing a straightforward tuition price. Now, Cumberlands is taking a bold step in higher education. The goal of the Cumberlands Commitment Campaign is to raise $100 million with the university matching those funds. This funding will endow scholarships that will enable students to graduate with little to no debt.
Tuition Reduction
2019
Main Goals
- Increase undergraduate student enrollment on campus
- Increase number of students from Appalachia and Kentucky
- Balance the number of student athletes and general students
- Decrease federal loan dependency for students
- Lower the institutional discount rate
2022
Results after three years
- Increased undergraduate enrollment on campus from 1,350 to 2,047 students
- Increased Kentucky resident students on campus from 53% to 65%
- Balanced the student body with 46% athletes and 54% general students
- On average, students are borrowing $1,500 less per year in federal loans
- Lowered institutional discount rate from 69.2% to 36.5%