Rhodes College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Memphis, Tennessee. It enrolls 1,836 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes91
Value35
Affordability14
Selectivity85
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 50.4%, Rhodes College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
50.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1300 – 1486
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Rhodes College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
5.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Rhodes College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,585 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,585
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$57,110
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,620
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,620
Books & Supplies
$1,125
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,619
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,783
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,136
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,770
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,960
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,910
$75,001 – $110,000
$37,103
Over $110,000
$31,878
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,00025%percentile
$21,761Medianpercentile
$27,05075%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,336
↓ $2,425
No Pell $19,349
↓ $2,412
Female students $19,500
↓ $2,261
Male students $18,500
↓ $3,261
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($21,761), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at Rhodes College graduate within six years, and 92% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
92%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Rhodes College earn a median of $66,651 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$66,651
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$78,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $23,300, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Rhodes College is home to 1,836 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,836
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 58.7%1,077
Black 9.4%173
Asian 8.8%162
Hispanic 7.5%137
International 6.2%114
Other 5.2%96
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Rhodes College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityMemphis, Tennessee
Housing
Strongly residential1,613 beds for 1,836 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Rhodes College offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rhodes College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$529M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$83,559
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
186 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
43
23%
$104,039
Associate Professors
79
42%
$86,234
Assistant Professors
58
31%
$67,252
Instructors
6
3%
$59,219
Pros & Cons of Rhodes College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Rhodes College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Rhodes College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rhodes College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Rhodes College.
Is Rhodes College hard to get into?
Admissions at Rhodes College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 50.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Rhodes College?
Rhodes College has an acceptance rate of 50.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Rhodes College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Rhodes College scored between 1300 and 1486 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Rhodes College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Rhodes College scored between 26 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Rhodes College cost?
The average net price after aid at Rhodes College is $28,585 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Rhodes College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $66,651 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,585 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Rhodes College known for?
Rhodes College is best known for its programs in Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Rhodes College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Rhodes College are $66,651, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Rhodes College accredited?
Yes. Rhodes College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Rhodes College?
Rhodes College enrolls 1,836 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Rhodes College?
Rhodes College graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Rhodes College a public or private college?
Rhodes College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Rhodes College located?
Rhodes College is located in Memphis, Tennessee.
What programs does Rhodes College offer?
Rhodes College offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Rhodes College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rhodes College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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