Presbyterian university in Appalachia with medical, dental, and optometry schools.
UPIKE offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through six academic divisions and three professional schools. The university features four academic colleges: Patton College of Education, Coleman College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Natural and Health Sciences. Graduate programs include Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Legal Studies, Master of Social Work, Master of Strategic Communication, Master of Biomedical Science, Teacher Leader Masters, and RN-BSN. The university awards the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) through KYCOM and the Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) through the Kentucky College of Optometry, which began in 2016.
The 25-acre hillside campus overlooks downtown Pikeville in Eastern Kentucky's coal fields region. Key facilities include the Armington Learning Center (math and science), Allara Library (remodeled from the historic Pikeville Hospital), Coal Building (medical school), Health Professions Building (optometry and dental), and the Training-Academy Building (oldest on campus, on the National Register of Historic Places). Residential options include nine halls serving freshmen, upperclassmen, and graduate students. The Appalachian Wireless Arena (5,700 seats) hosts basketball and other events. The university emphasizes community engagement and outdoor recreation in the scenic Appalachian region.
UPIKE competes in 25 intercollegiate varsity sports through the NAIA, primarily in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (since 2023–24). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Co-ed sports include archery, cheerleading, dance, and eSports. The Bears have won three national championships: men's basketball (2011) and women's bowling (2004, 2008).
UPIKE reports that 99% of freshmen receive some form of financial aid and 38% of undergraduates are first-generation college students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1. The university offers the UPIKE Pledge Scholarship and competitive programs including the Dental Scholars Program (DSP), Optometry Scholars Program (OSP), Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program (OMSP), and Presidential Fellow Scholarship. Free textbooks are provided to help students overcome financial obstacles.