Head-to-head comparison
University of the Cumberlands vs Ashland Community and Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Williamsburg, KY
University of the Cumberlands
- Net price / year
- $14,107
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,036
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Ashland, KY
Ashland Community and Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,717
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,504
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of the Cumberlands comes closer — median earnings $45,036 against a $56,428 total, vs $34,504 at Ashland Community and Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of the Cumberlands | Ashland Community and Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,107 | $5,717 |
| Total net cost | $56,428 | $22,868 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,036 | $34,504 |
| Median debt | $14,911 | $10,950 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$122,908 | -$299,988 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of the Cumberlands or Ashland Community and Technical College?
Ashland Community and Technical College, at $5,717 a year after aid versus $14,107 — a gap of $8,390 a year, or $33,560 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of the Cumberlands or Ashland Community and Technical College graduates earn more?
University of the Cumberlands graduates report a median $45,036 ten years after entry, $10,532 more than the $34,504 at Ashland Community and Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of the Cumberlands or Ashland Community and Technical College?
Ashland Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $10,950 in federal loans versus $14,911 at University of the Cumberlands, a difference of $3,961. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
51% of students finish at Ashland Community and Technical College, against 50% at University of the Cumberlands. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.