Education is a genuinely distinct graduate track at University of the Cumberlands, separate from the Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Business Administration programs most commonly covered in Cumberlands' international enrollment story. Like the rest of Cumberlands' graduate programs, admission into the Master of Education (M.Ed.) and related education degrees follows the university's general, criteria-based graduate process rather than a competitive, capped-seat review.
This article covers the acceptance picture, cost, admission requirements, English-test rules, and career outcomes for graduate Education programs at Cumberlands.
Acceptance Rate
University of the Cumberlands does not publish an Education-specific acceptance rate. Graduate admission generally is criteria-based: a completed application, transcripts showing a minimum GPA, and an English proficiency score, with no competitive, capped-seat review process. Cumberlands' general graduate minimum GPA is 2.5/4.0 for most master's programs, with conditional admission available for some online applicants.
Each graduate program, including Education, can add its own specific criteria on top of this general floor; we could not confirm an Education-specific GPA or prerequisite coursework requirement distinct from Cumberlands' general graduate minimum in the sources reviewed, so confirm directly with the Education program for current specifics.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Education students pay Cumberlands' standard graduate tuition rate, among the lowest published in this guide series for an accredited US master's degree.
| Program level | Cost |
|---|---|
| Graduate (standard online, M.Ed. and most education programs) | ~$355/credit hour (average) |
| Graduate (executive programs, where applicable) | $549/credit hour |
A 30-36 credit M.Ed. at Cumberlands' standard ~$355/credit hour rate costs roughly $10,650-$12,780 in total tuition, dramatically below the US graduate norm. Confirm whether your specific Education track runs through the standard or executive pricing tier, since Cumberlands applies different per-credit rates depending on program structure. For the full university-wide cost picture, see the University of the Cumberlands guide.
Admission Requirements
- Completed graduate application and application fee
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) institutions
- Minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0 for most master's programs (conditional admission available in some online programs)
- English proficiency score (see below)
- Coursework from outside the US needs a course-by-course evaluation from a recognized agency such as IERF or a NACES/AICE member
- Students previously on academic probation for more than one semester, or suspended from a Cumberlands program, are not eligible for admission into a new program
Because each graduate program can add its own criteria on top of this general floor, confirm current Education-specific requirements directly with the program rather than assuming the general minimum is the complete picture.
How to Get Into University of the Cumberlands' Education Program
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Meet the baseline GPA and English-score criteria and the rest is largely procedural. Because admission isn't comparative or capped, a complete, accurate application meeting the published minimums is close to sufficient on its own.
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Confirm whether your intended Education track leads to a specific state teaching license or endorsement, since this varies by program and matters significantly if you intend to teach in a specific US state or in your home country after graduating.
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Get your international coursework evaluated early. A course-by-course credential evaluation from IERF or a NACES/AICE member agency is required before the Admissions Committee can assess whether your prior education meets Cumberlands' academic requirements, and this evaluation can take real time to arrange.
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Submit English proficiency scores early, since Cumberlands' thresholds are on the lower end nationally and rarely the blocking factor in an application, unlike at more selective universities.
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Decide deliberately between standard and executive program structures where both exist, since they differ in both cost per credit hour and, for Cumberlands' other graduate tracks, in CPT structure; confirm whether this distinction applies to your specific Education program.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Education follows Cumberlands' general graduate English proficiency minimums; there is no separately published, Education-specific override confirmed in the sources reviewed.
| Test | Graduate minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 65 (updating to a "4" on TOEFL's new 1-6 scale for tests taken after January 21, 2026) |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 |
Cumberlands' official admissions pages do not list a PTE Academic score as an accepted alternative; confirm directly with admissions if you've only taken PTE. Waivers: the English requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree in the US or at least nine hours of master's-level coursework in the US at a regionally accredited institution. For the full picture, see the University of the Cumberlands guide.
Career Outcomes
Education graduates from Cumberlands commonly move into K-12 teaching, school administration, curriculum development, or further doctoral study in education, depending on their specific track and whether it carries a state licensure or endorsement component. A single, confirmed Education-specific employment rate or starting salary was not found from a primary Cumberlands source during this research. Cumberlands' broader, university-wide third-party-reported outcomes (College Factual, not a Cumberlands-published figure) show roughly 91.6% of alumni employed within three years of leaving, with a median salary around $51,882 four years after graduation, though this figure spans all programs, not Education specifically.
Education degrees are generally not STEM-designated, so Education graduates typically rely on the standard 12-month OPT period rather than the 24-month STEM OPT extension available to Cumberlands' computer science and cybersecurity graduates. Cumberlands' distinctive CPT (Curricular Practical Training) structure, which allows graduate students to request practical training starting in their first semester for programs where it's built in, may or may not apply to Education specifically; confirm directly with UC Global (the international student services office) before assuming it carries over from Cumberlands' computing and business tracks.
FAQ
Does Cumberlands publish an acceptance rate for Education specifically? No. Graduate Education admission is criteria-based, following Cumberlands' general graduate minimums (2.5/4.0 GPA, qualifying English score), with no competitive, capped-seat review process.
How much does the M.Ed. cost at Cumberlands? Roughly $10,650-$12,780 in total tuition for a standard 30-36 credit programme at Cumberlands' ~$355/credit hour rate, among the lowest published in this guide series.
Do I need my transcripts evaluated before applying? Yes. International coursework needs a course-by-course evaluation from a recognized agency such as IERF or a NACES/AICE member before the Admissions Committee can assess your academic record.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Cumberlands' Education program? Cumberlands' general graduate minimums: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 65 (updating to "4" on the new scale from January 2026).
Does a Cumberlands Education degree qualify for STEM OPT? No. Education degrees are not STEM-designated, so graduates use the standard 12-month OPT period.