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Union Commonwealth University
Union Commonwealth University says yes to 63.1% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $42,002 median earnings.
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Union Commonwealth University anchors the college town of Barbourville, KY, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its United Methodist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $87,221 four years out. 52.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 746 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 63.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 920 and 1105 — below the KY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Union Commonwealth University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Union Commonwealth University received 834 applications and admitted 459 (55%), with 198 enrolling.
Union Commonwealth University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 920–1105 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Union Commonwealth University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 460 | 500 | 560 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 520 | 545 |
| ACT Composite | 14 | 17 | 21 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Union Commonwealth University compares
| Union Commonwealth University | Kentucky median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 63.1% | 79.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $30,946 | $26,625 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $42,002 | $45,036 | $53,781 |
At $42,002, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($45,036). Look at Union Commonwealth University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $30,946 regardless of where you're from. At Union Commonwealth University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 746 — Union Commonwealth University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
Fewer than half of Union Commonwealth University students — 32.1% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Union Commonwealth University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $87,221 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $51,079 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $41,475 |
Median earnings for these 3 Union Commonwealth University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $42,002 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 27 additional Union Commonwealth University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Union Commonwealth University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 920–1105 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 63.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Union Commonwealth University's acceptance rate?
55% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 459 admitted from 834 applicants.
How much does Union Commonwealth University cost?
At Union Commonwealth University, published tuition is $30,946 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Union Commonwealth University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Union Commonwealth University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $42,002 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kentucky
- Northern Kentucky University — 67.7% admitted
- Morehead State University — 77.2% admitted
- University of Louisville — 79.4% admitted
- Kentucky Christian University — 60.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.