This guide covers the undergraduate Business Administration degree at University of the Cumberlands, offered through the Hutton School of Business, not the university's separate MBA or Executive MBA programs, which follow entirely different admission and cost structures. The undergraduate degree combines foundational business coursework (management, finance, economics, marketing, business analytics, organizational leadership) with a dedicated Strategic Career Development course covering resume writing, LinkedIn positioning, and professional networking, a practical, career-services-adjacent layer built directly into the curriculum. For international students, this program is generally chosen for the same reasons that draw students to Cumberlands overall: low cost, a low admission bar, and a straightforward path to a US bachelor's degree.
Acceptance Rate
Cumberlands does not publish a program-specific acceptance rate for Business Administration. The only available reference is the university-wide undergraduate acceptance rate reported by US News & World Report at roughly 99% (a third-party estimate, not an official Cumberlands figure), among the least selective rates of any four-year US university. There is no indication Business Administration is admitted more selectively than the university average; Cumberlands' admissions process is criteria-based (GPA and English proficiency thresholds) rather than comparative or capped by seat count.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
| Program format | Cost |
|---|---|
| On-campus (Cumberlands' "One Price Promise") | ~$19,175/year, includes tuition, housing, dining, fees, books, and technology |
| Online | $220/credit hour |
At $220/credit hour, a full undergraduate Business Administration degree (typically around 120 credit hours total, though transfer credit can reduce this significantly) would run roughly $26,400 in tuition alone if taken entirely online from scratch, though most students transfer in some credit or mix formats, so actual cost varies significantly by individual academic path. The on-campus "One Price Promise" rate of ~$19,175/year is Cumberlands' most transparent, all-inclusive figure and is the one most relevant to a typical four-year on-campus international student budget.
Cumberlands' official international-student pages do not list a specific merit scholarship for Business Administration applicants; confirm current aid and net-price details directly with admissions.
Admission Requirements
- Completed application
- Official high school transcript with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts from any previously attended colleges/universities (for transfer applicants)
- English proficiency score for non-native speakers (see below), or a qualifying ACT (17+) or SAT (920+) score
- Financial documentation to support I-20/visa processing
There is no separate, higher GPA or test-score bar published specifically for Business Administration; it follows Cumberlands' standard undergraduate admission criteria.
How to Get Into Cumberlands' Business Administration Program
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Submit a complete application meeting the published minimums. Because Cumberlands' undergraduate admission is not comparative or capped, meeting the 2.0 GPA threshold and English-proficiency requirement is close to sufficient for admission on its own.
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Decide between on-campus and online formats early, since the cost structure differs meaningfully: the on-campus "One Price Promise" bundles everything into one predictable annual figure, while online is billed per credit hour and total cost depends on how many credits you need to complete the degree.
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Use the Strategic Career Development coursework deliberately. Since this course (covering resume-building, LinkedIn, and networking) is built into the curriculum rather than optional, treat it as a genuine career-services resource rather than a formality, it's one of the more concretely useful parts of the degree for international students unfamiliar with the US job market.
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If you plan to pursue OPT after graduation, plan your major/minor combination with that in mind. A standalone Business Administration degree is not STEM-designated (a business analytics-heavy track or dual degree with a quantitative field might change this in some configurations), so standard 12-month OPT, without the STEM OPT extension, is the default expectation unless your specific concentration qualifies otherwise; confirm the CIP code for your intended concentration directly with the registrar if STEM OPT eligibility matters to your plans.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
- IELTS: 6.0 overall
- TOEFL iBT: 65 (updating to a "4" on TOEFL's redesigned 1-6 scale for tests taken after January 21, 2026)
- Duolingo English Test: 95
- ACT/SAT alternative: ACT 17+ or SAT 920+ (Reading/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sub-scores are generally what qualifies as an English-proficiency substitute)
- PTE Academic: not listed as an accepted option on Cumberlands' official admissions pages; confirm directly with admissions if this is your only test
- Waiver: waived for students transferring from a US institution
For the full breakdown of Cumberlands' testing policy, CPT/OPT structure, and an honest fit assessment of the university overall, see University of the Cumberlands' full guide.
Career Outcomes
University-wide, third-party data (College Factual, not a Cumberlands-published figure) reports roughly 91.6% of alumni employed within three years of graduating, with a median salary around $51,882 four years after graduation; this is a blended figure across all majors and is not broken out specifically for Business Administration graduates. Cumberlands' overall undergraduate four-year graduation rate is reported at a notably low 29% (46% overall completion), a figure that should be read in the context of the university's broad-access, high-acceptance admissions model and large online/working student population rather than treated as a like-for-like comparison with a selective residential college.
A standalone Business Administration bachelor's degree is not STEM-designated, so standard 12-month OPT (not the 24-month STEM OPT extension) is the default expectation for graduates on F-1 status, unless a specific concentration or dual-degree combination changes the CIP code classification. If STEM OPT eligibility matters to your decision, this is worth confirming directly with Cumberlands before committing to the major.
FAQ
What is the acceptance rate for Cumberlands' Business Administration program? Not published at the program level. The only available reference is the university-wide undergraduate figure of roughly 99% (a third-party US News estimate).
Is this the MBA program? No. This guide covers the undergraduate Business Administration bachelor's degree. Cumberlands' MBA and Executive MBA are separate graduate programs with different admission requirements, tuition, and structure.
How much does the Business Administration degree cost for international students? On-campus students pay Cumberlands' "One Price Promise" rate of roughly $19,175/year (tuition, housing, dining, fees, books, technology included). Online students pay $220/credit hour.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? IELTS 6.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 65, among the lowest thresholds covered in this guide series.
Is the undergraduate Business Administration degree STEM-designated for OPT purposes? No, standalone Business Administration is not a STEM-designated CIP code, so graduates default to standard 12-month OPT rather than the 24-month STEM OPT extension, unless a specific concentration changes this classification.
Does Cumberlands offer career support built into this degree? Yes, the curriculum includes a dedicated Strategic Career Development course covering resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, and professional networking as part of the required coursework, not as an optional add-on.