The University of the South Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
The University of the South is a private research university in Sewanee, Tennessee, enrolling about 1,607 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 56.90% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $64,911 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $56,120
- 2024 Average Net Price: $27,872 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 56.90% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,607 99.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 79.79%
- Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
- First-Generation Students: 13.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 4.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 88.7%
- Average SAT Score: 1344
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,803
- Applicants (IPEDS): 5,018
- Room & Board: $16,028 annual estimate
The University of the South: what the data shows
Common questions about The University of the South, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is The University of the South?
The University of the South is located in Sewanee, TN (ZIP 37383-1000).
Is The University of the South public or private?
The University of the South is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does The University of the South cost?
Published tuition: $56,120.
Average net price after aid: $27,872.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $10,485 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,704 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,746 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $22,563 |
| $110,001+ | $38,762 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $224,480.
How hard is it to get into The University of the South?
Admission rate: 56.90%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1344 and midpoint ACT 29.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is The University of the South?
Total enrollment: 1,607 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,803 students.
Graduate enrollment: 80 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at The University of the South?
150%-time completion rate: 79.79%.
First-year retention: 88.9%.
What do graduates of The University of the South earn?
Median earnings: $53,456 six years after entry; $64,911 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $22,855.
15.85% of students receive Pell grants.
What is The University of the South known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Psychology, General (53 completions)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (51 completions)
- General Literature (41 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (34 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (30 completions)
- International/Globalization Studies (28 completions)
- Sustainability Studies (27 completions)
- Divinity/Ministry (20 completions)
- Finance, General (20 completions)
- Creative Writing (18 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is The University of the South a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 56.90%; completion rate 79.79%; median earnings $64,911 at 10 years; net price $27,872. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$56,120
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at The University of the South was $56,120.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$27,872
2024 Value
In 2024 The University of the South had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $27,872.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$111,488 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$27,872 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$224,480 4-Year Tuition
$16,028 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$500 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$72,648 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$290,592 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for The University of the South.
Financial Aid by Income Level
15.85% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
33.56% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at The University of the South was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for The University of the South in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $35,756 | $35,756 | $20,827 |
| 2014 | $37,100 | $37,100 | $20,600 |
| 2015 | $38,700 | $38,700 | $22,770 |
| 2016 | $42,400 | $42,400 | $25,303 |
| 2017 | $45,120 | $45,120 | $27,544 |
| 2018 | $45,120 | $45,120 | $29,119 |
| 2019 | $46,472 | $46,472 | $30,474 |
| 2020 | $47,980 | $47,980 | $34,455 |
| 2021 | $49,418 | $49,418 | $27,958 |
| 2022 | $51,146 | $51,146 | $26,357 |
| 2023 | $53,698 | $53,698 | $27,498 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
56.90% Acceptance Rate
5,018 Total Applicants
2,554 Students Admitted
449 First-Time Students Enrolled
17.58% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1344
ACT Average: 29
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
The University of the South reported total enrollment of about 1,607 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (82.5%), Hispanic or Latino (5.5%), and Black or African American (4.0%). About 15.85% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 13.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at The University of the South in 2024 is 1,607 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,803 students. Graduate enrollment is about 80 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
88.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 82.5%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
73.26% 100% Completion Time
79.79% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 73.26% of students graduating from The University of the South completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 19% male / 81% female
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 73% male / 27% female
- General Literature: 49% male / 51% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for The University of the South.
Return on Investment
$22,855 Median Student Debt
$64,911 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
35.21% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
482.22% Return on Investment
3.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for The University of the South.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 38 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Psychology, General: 53 completions
2. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 51 completions
3. General Literature: 41 completions
4. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 34 completions
5. Political Science and Government, General: 30 completions
6. International/Globalization Studies: 28 completions
7. Sustainability Studies: 27 completions
8. Divinity/Ministry: 20 completions
9. Finance, General: 20 completions
Most popular programs at The University of the South.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for The University of the South graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for The University of the South from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 88.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,158
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $22,548
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
The University of the South is a private non-profit institution located in Sewanee, TN, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Psychology, General, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, General Literature. Enrollment is approximately 1,607 students. Student body composition includes White (82.5%), Hispanic or Latino (5.5%), Black or African American (4.0%). The admission rate is 56.90%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1344. The 150%-time completion rate is 79.79%. Approximately 15.85% of students receive Pell Grants. About 13.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields
Location
Sewanee, TN 37383-1000
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
The University of the South provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The University of the South located?
The University of the South is located in Sewanee, TN.
What is The University of the South's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at The University of the South is 56.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 5,018 applicants and 2,554 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does The University of the South cost?
Reported tuition is $56,120 and average net price is $27,872 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,028 annually.
What is the student body demographics at The University of the South?
The University of the South reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,803 students, White (82.5%), Hispanic or Latino (5.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend The University of the South?
About 13.2% of students at The University of the South are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for The University of the South?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, The University of the South reports midpoint SAT about 1344 and midpoint ACT about 29.
What do graduates of The University of the South earn?
Median earnings are $53,456 six years after entry and $64,911 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at The University of the South?
The 150%-time completion rate is 79.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do The University of the South students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,855.
Is The University of the South public or private?
The University of the South is a private nonprofit institution located in Sewanee, TN.
Is The University of the South an HBCU?
No. The University of the South is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is The University of the South a tribal college?
No. The University of the South is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Tennessee college costs
- Tennessee colleges by ROI
- Southeast regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Tennessee
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.