The institution was previously affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, and its mission has been to educate and prepare leaders for service to the greater community.

Based on formerly being controlled by the Kentucky Baptist Convention and being bound by its policies, the university requested and received exemptions from Title IX in the areas of "admissions, recruitment, education programs or activities, and employment", allowing it to discriminate in those fields based on its views regarding "marriage, sex outside of marriage, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and abortion.

Cumberland College received authority to award its first graduate degree, the Master of Arts in Education (MAED), on April 6, 1988.

In 2004 then-president Larry Cockrum was caught in an academic scandal because he was awarded a fake degree from Crescent City Christian College.

The following year, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) censured the university, finding that then-President James Taylor coerced Professor Robert Day into resigning because he had opposed Taylor's proposed staff layoffs on an off-campus website.

[10][11] The AAUP concluded that "The policies of Cumberland College, including the grievance procedure, do not provide for faculty hearings of any kind.

Those interviewed "expressed a particular fear that criticizing the administration and its operation of the college could place a faculty member's appointment in jeopardy".

[13] The board of trustees officially approved the succession plan on October 15, 2014, giving Cockrum a seven-year contract and the title of Chief Executive Officer & President-Elect.

[15] That same year, the university was granted an exception to Title IX, which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.

These plans include a student recreation center complete with a rock wall, along with adding a thatched roof in order to blend in with the other buildings on campus.

UC recently began offering majors in Journalism and Public Relations, Criminal Justice, and Spanish.

The location was originally secured to offer more clinical rotations in mental healthcare for doctoral psychology students.

The university has other extracurricular student activities, including Campus Activity Board (CAB), chapters of College Republicans and College Democrats, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Residence Hall Councils, Student Government Association, Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM), and many other clubs and organizations.

Students who accumulate 200 or more hours of community service during their time at UC are designated "Hutton Scholars" and presented with certificates.