Admission Requirements

Admissions requirements are standard throughout the university and applies to all students. Some programs have additional requirements in addition to the base standards. The purpose of the admission process is to identify applicants who are likely to succeed academically at University of the Cumberlands and at the same time contribute positively to the campus community. In making admission decisions the University considers many factors, including high school records (including courses taken, grade trends, and rank in class), standardized test scores, extracurricular activities and honors, and personal contact with the student. In some cases, a teacher recommendation and an essay may be requested. 
Scroll down the page for Graduate and Program Specific Admissions Requirements. 

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

All Undergraduate Applicants Must Submit

  1. A completed Application.
  2. An official high school transcript with the grade point average computed on a 4.0 scale. GED students must provide official scores from the General Education Development Test (GED);
    1. Students with 0-11 hours of college credit must submit an official high school transcript showing a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. GED students must provide official scores from the General Education Development Test (GED).
    2. High school transcripts are not required for students who have obtained 12+ hours of college credit after graduating high school.
    3. The admission office will confirm all students’ transcripts arrive from a high school with a CEEB code, as well as the high school seal and/or signature. If a transcript is from a high school that lacks a CEEB code or seal/signature, the admission office will investigate to confirm the school is recognized by the state department of education or home school association. The admission office may request a copy of the student’s diploma at any point in the admission process for verification purposes. If a diploma is determined invalid, a GED may be required for admission consideration.  
  3. Official transcripts from relevant colleges/universities attended.
  • A student transferring from another University MUST be eligible to return to the college from which you are transferring.

  4. Any additional information as requested by the University to determine admission eligibility. 

  5. All academic credit from an educational institution outside the United States must be evaluated by one of the transcript evaluation services referenced below:

  • World Education Services (WES)
  • International Education Research Foundation (IERF) Eval Direct
  • Educational Perspectives (EP)
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
  • Student-Athletes are encouraged to use PLAYNAIA InCRED
  • TEC

Non-native English-speaking applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency for admission to the university through submission of an official test score or through a virtual interview process with an admissions representative. Minimum test scores that successfully demonstrate English proficiency are listed below:

  • ACT - 17
  • SAT - 920
  • TOEFL (paper-based) - 550
  • TOEFL (internet-based) - On January 21, 2026, the TOEFL will update its scoring system to a 1-6 point scale. Currently our standard for admission on the TOEFL exam is a 65. The new equivalent score for our current standard will be a 4. 
  • IELTS - 6
  • DuoLingo - 95
Re-Entering Transfer Students

Attended another college or university since last enrollment at University of the Cumberlands (Cumberland College). 
Candidates for admission as a reentering transfer must submit the following items: 

  • A completed Application. 
  • Official transcripts from colleges/universities you have attended. 
  • Any additional information may be requested by the University. 
  • High school transcript and/or ACT or SAT scores may be requested. 

Reach Out to Us!

Have questions about the admissions or enrollment process? Reach out to a counselor for assistance.

Graduate Admission Requirements

University of the Cumberlands has established qualitative and quantitative requirements for the admission of students whose education preparation evidences the potential for high-level performance. All admissions materials must be received in the Graduate Admissions Office or the Department of International Graduate Services Office (DIGS) Office (for Executive Format program students).

Additional requirements for each program are contained within the School/Department sections.

Academic departments may have varying GPA requirements. Please see the academic department section for specific requirements.

Admission requirements shared among all programs are:
  1. Completed Graduate Application with payment of required Application Fee.
  2. Request that official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work be sent directly from the respective institution(s) to:

University of the Cumberlands
Graduate Admissions
100 School Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769

OR

The (DIGS) office for Executive Format Program students:

University of the Cumberlands
Department of International Graduate Services
100 School Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769

The transcript(s) must include the degree and date on which it was conferred. All graduate work as verified by official transcripts:

  1. Master’s degree admission requires a grade point average of at least 2.5* on a 4.0 scale from a bachelors’ degree or higher from a United States Department of Education accredited institution or an institution approved through the International Evaluation firms listed below.
  2. Doctoral degree admission requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0** on a 4.0 scale from the conferred master’s degree as well as in any subsequent graduate study. Admission to a Doctoral degree program requires a master’s degree or higher from a United States Department of Education accredited institution in a field related to the doctoral degree of application. For example, application to a Ph.D. in Information Technology would require a master’s in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, or closely related area.

*Conditional admission may be applicable for certain programs for online students.

** Certain programs require a 3.5 GPA for Admission (PhD CES)

Students must be in good standing in order to be admitted into any program.

  1. If a student has been on probation for more than one semester in an unfinished program at University of the Cumberlands or has been suspended from a program at University of the Cumberlands or any other IHE, the student cannot be admitted into a new program at University of the Cumberlands.
  2. Graduation from a program in which a student has been on probation causes those probation semesters to be forgiven in a newly admitted program.

Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement is waived for students who have completed a bachelor’s program in the U.S. or have completed at least nine hours of master’s level coursework in the U.S. at regionally accredited institution. The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are:

  1. TOEFL - On January 21, 2026, the TOEFL will update its scoring system to a 1-6 point scale. Currently our standard for admission on the TOEFL exam is a 65. The new equivalent score for our current standard will be a 4. 
  2. IELTS - 6
  3. Duolingo-100

Any international coursework completed must have official transcript evaluations completed and submitted to the University by the evaluation firm.

Evaluations MUST include a cumulative GPA and U.S. equivalency for admission. Approved Evaluation Firms are:

  1. World Education Services (WES)
  2. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO),
  3. Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
  4. International Education Research Foundation (IERF) EvalDirect
  5. Educational Perspectives (EP)
  6. TEC
  7. Incred

*The transcript evaluation requirement is waived for any student who has completed a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., or who has completed at least nine hours of master’s courses in the U.S. Applicants seeking doctoral admission are required to provide a certified evaluation as proof of a U.S. master’s degree equivalency.

Re-admittance to the Institution 

Students are expected to maintain good academic standing in holding appropriate GPA levels as outlined elsewhere in the Catalog. If a student has been dismissed from the institution after following the outlined procedures and recommendations for poor Academic standing, the student can be readmitted to the institution through a written appeal to the Academic Standing Committee. 

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Graduate programs with admission requirements in addition to the requirements detailed above are available here. Please see the academic catalog for specific details.

Reach out to us!

Have questions about the admissions or enrollment process? Reach out to a counselor for assistance.