The University of the South is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Sewanee, Tennessee. It enrolls 1,607 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.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes87
Value34
Affordability15
Selectivity81
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 56.9%, The University of the South is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
56.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1260 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
27 – 31
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 The University of the South is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
15.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending The University of the South 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 $27,872 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,872
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
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
$56,120
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,028
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,028
Books & Supplies
$500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,750
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,750
Total Cost of Attendance
$71,986
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
$10,485
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,704
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,746
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,563
Over $110,000
$38,762
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$7,50025%percentile
$22,855Medianpercentile
$24,00075%percentile
$27,96690%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 $16,000
↓ $6,855
No Pell $19,500
↓ $3,355
Female students $18,250
↓ $4,605
Male students $16,000
↓ $6,855
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,731, less than completers ($22,855), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
72% of full-time students who enrolled at The University of the South graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered The University of the South earn a median of $64,911 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,911
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
$43,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,400, about 27% 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 ↑
9.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
The University of the South is home to 1,607 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,607
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 82.5%1,325
Hispanic 5.5%88
Black 4.0%65
International 3.6%57
Other 3.2%52
Asian 0.8%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at The University of the South. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantSewanee, Tennessee
Housing
Strongly residential1,800 beds for 1,607 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
The University of the South offers
a varied set of programs:
35 distinct programs across
16 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 The University of the South is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$709M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$88,047
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
183 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
63
34%
$114,096
Associate Professors
47
26%
$88,953
Assistant Professors
66
36%
$65,047
Instructors
7
4%
$64,368
Pros & Cons of The University of the South
A quick at-a-glance summary of how The University of the South tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about The University of the South
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about The University of the South.
Is The University of the South hard to get into?
Admissions at The University of the South are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 56.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at The University of the South?
The University of the South has an acceptance rate of 56.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for The University of the South?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The University of the South scored between 1260 and 1390 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 The University of the South?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The University of the South scored between 27 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does The University of the South cost?
The average net price after aid at The University of the South is $27,872 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is The University of the South worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,911 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,872 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is The University of the South known for?
The University of the South is best known for its programs in Psychology, Economics, Political Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do The University of the South graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering The University of the South are $64,911, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is The University of the South accredited?
Yes. The University of the South is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend The University of the South?
The University of the South enrolls 1,607 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at The University of the South?
The University of the South graduates 72% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is The University of the South a public or private college?
The University of the South is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is The University of the South located?
The University of the South is located in Sewanee, Tennessee.
What programs does The University of the South offer?
The University of the South offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Economics, Political Science.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at The University of the South?
The student-to-faculty ratio at The University of the South is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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