Union Commonwealth University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Union Commonwealth University charges a net price of $21,311/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $85,244. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,002, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Union Commonwealth University does not clear its cost — it ranks #24 of 51 Kentucky colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,311/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $85,244 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,002 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$6,358/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$212,404 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Union Commonwealth University's own numbers. Net price $21,311 × 4 years = $85,244 total. Median earnings $42,002 fall $6,358 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $85,244 bill in about 8.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Union Commonwealth University students graduate with?
A median $24,250 in federal loans among completers, or 58% of the $42,002 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Union Commonwealth University students graduate?
32% finish their degree — 68% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $85,244 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $266,388 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Union Commonwealth University expensive compared with other Kentucky colleges?
Its $21,311 net price runs $7,204 above the $14,107 median across the 51 Kentucky colleges we profile, or $28,816 more across the full degree.