At $23,906/yr net price, Union College graduates earn $42,002/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $8,002/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $23,906 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $95,624 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,002/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$8,002/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 12 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 36.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $24,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,372/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,306/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,500/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $44,375/yr |
| $110,001+ | $44,375/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $56,415 | $15,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $29,685 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $24,035 |
The Risk Factor
36.0% of students at Union College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Union College in Barbourville, KY runs a weak financial return for most majors. Ten years out, the typical graduate earns about $42,000, and the school only graduates 36% of the people who enroll. That combination is the core problem: you pay a private-college net price of roughly $24,000 a year, and most people who start here never finish to see any payoff at all.
Nursing is the one program that clearly works. Bachelor's nursing graduates earn about $56,000 and carry only $15,000 in debt, so the math favors you if you can get into and complete that track. Everything else lags badly. Bachelor's teacher education pays under $30,000, and health and physical education pays around $24,000 , barely above the net price you paid each year to earn it. If you want to teach or go into fitness, the numbers here do not support borrowing to do it.
The biggest risk is the retention rate. Fewer than 58% of first-year students come back for a second year, and the low graduation rate means the debt without a degree scenario is a real threat, not a hypothetical. Debt without a credential is the worst outcome, and it happens here often.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families and punish middle-income ones. Under $30,000 in family income, you pay around $12,000. between $48,000 and $75,000 it jumps to $25,500. and above $75,000 it more than doubles to about $44,000. That top tier makes Union a hard sell for higher-earning families.
Union is a reasonable financial fit if you are low-income and committed to nursing. If you plan to major in education, physical education, or you come from a family paying the full $44,000, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Union College in Barbourville, KY worth the cost?
Union College's value depends heavily on your major. Nursing graduates earn $56,415 annually while education majors average just $29,685, both starting from a $24,000 debt load and $96,000 total cost.
What is Union College's return on investment compared to other schools?
Union College graduates earn $42,002 ten years after enrollment, which is below the national average for four-year colleges. The 36% graduation rate means nearly two-thirds of students don't finish their degree.
Does Union College provide good financial aid to make it affordable?
The average net price at Union College is $23,906 per year after aid. Students typically graduate with $24,250 in debt, which is manageable for nursing majors but challenging for lower-earning fields like education.
Which Union College programs offer the best job prospects after graduation?
Registered Nursing is Union College's strongest program with graduates earning $56,415 annually. Education and fitness programs pay significantly less at around $25,000-30,000 per year.