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The University of the South

The University of the South is based in the town of Sewanee, TN — a private campus in a small-town setting. The school reports a Protestant Episcopal affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$10,970

family income
under $30k

$14,429

$30–48k

$18,421

$48–75k

$26,923

$75–110k

$37,122

over $110k

Average net price

$27,8722023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at The University of the South rose from $14,649 (2008) to $27,872 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$14,649
2009	$10,625
2010	$10,603
2011	$18,676
2012	$20,827
2013	$20,600
2014	$22,770
2015	$25,303
2016	$27,544
2017	$29,119
2018	$30,474
2019	$34,455
2020	$27,958
2021	$26,357
2022	$27,498
2023	$27,872

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$71,9862024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at The University of the South rose from $44,020 (2009) to $71,986 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$44,020
2010	$45,832
2011	$48,012
2012	$43,418
2013	$46,530
2014	$47,970
2015	$49,700
2016	$51,899
2017	$57,450
2018	$60,950
2019	$60,950
2020	$62,647
2021	$64,630
2022	$66,480
2023	$68,704
2024	$71,986

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$19,940
2001	$21,340
2002	$22,570
2003	$24,135
2004	$25,580
2005	$27,095
2006	$28,750
2007	$30,660
2008	$32,760
2013	$35,756
2014	$37,100
2015	$38,700
2016	$42,400
2017	$45,120
2018	$45,120
2019	$46,472
2020	$47,980
2021	$49,418
2022	$51,146
2023	$53,698

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $56,120 before grants and other attendance costs. At The University of the South, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Enrollment sits at 1,607 — The University of the South is one of the smaller campuses on this site.

79.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at The University of the South within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

79.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at The University of the South has held near 79.8% from Fall 1991 to Fall 2018 entering cohorts.

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	77.7%
1992 cohort	74.3%
1993 cohort	82.6%
1994 cohort	76%
1995 cohort	78.6%
1996 cohort	76.4%
1997 cohort	83.2%
1998 cohort	78.5%
1999 cohort	81.8%
2000 cohort	76.6%
2001 cohort	78.2%
2002 cohort	77.5%
2003 cohort	81.9%
2004 cohort	80.9%
2005 cohort	85.7%
2006 cohort	78.4%
2007 cohort	78%
2008 cohort	79.2%
2009 cohort	77.8%
2010 cohort	81.8%
2011 cohort	77.3%
2012 cohort	83.9%
2013 cohort	79.1%
2014 cohort	80.3%
2015 cohort	80.2%
2016 cohort	81.5%
2017 cohort	82.4%
2018 cohort	79.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$12,494	$3,000
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$11,561	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$11,600	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$9,600	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$8,966	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$9,250	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$9,625	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$9,282	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$9,825	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$11,080	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$12,425	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$13,625	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$15,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$16,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$19,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$18,759	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,124	$6,639
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,941	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$23,970	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$24,238	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$22,855	$5,731

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$53,456

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$55,160

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$64,911

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

The University of the South admitted 2,676 of 4,703 applicants in Fall 2024. The 56.9% rate describes that application pool.

56.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $53,698 tuition · 2023–24 1,607 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1260–13901600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, The University of the South received 4,703 applications and admitted 2,676 (56.9%), with 478 enrolling.

The University of the South reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For The University of the South’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 640–710 and Math was 620–680 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1260–1390 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	640	670	710
SAT Math	620	660	680
ACT Composite	27	29	31

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

56.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Read The University of the South's change from 73.7% to 56.9% as a share of applications, not an explanation of admissions decisions. This describes Fall 2001 to Fall 2024.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	73.7%
Fall 2002	73.7%
Fall 2003	72.4%
Fall 2004	64.1%
Fall 2005	67%
Fall 2006	70.8%
Fall 2007	63.6%
Fall 2008	64%
Fall 2009	68%
Fall 2010	62.3%
Fall 2011	61.4%
Fall 2012	58.8%
Fall 2013	60.3%
Fall 2014	64.7%
Fall 2015	40.6%
Fall 2016	43.6%
Fall 2017	46.7%
Fall 2018	65.2%
Fall 2019	66.7%
Fall 2020	56.1%
Fall 2021	60.3%
Fall 2022	52.3%
Fall 2023	50.9%
Fall 2024	56.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1260–1390Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1130	1310
Fall 2002	1130	1310
Fall 2003	1160	1320
Fall 2004	1150	1320
Fall 2005	1158	1330
Fall 2006	1130	1320
Fall 2007	1130	1330
Fall 2008	1148	1360
Fall 2009	1150	1360
Fall 2010	1160	1360
Fall 2011	1140	1330
Fall 2012	1170	1350
Fall 2013	1140	1320
Fall 2019	1150	1340
Fall 2020	1160	1340
Fall 2021	1200	1390
Fall 2022	1233	1380
Fall 2023	1236	1398
Fall 2024	1260	1390

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

27–31Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	24	28
Fall 2002	24	28
Fall 2003	25	29
Fall 2004	24	29
Fall 2005	25	29
Fall 2006	25	29
Fall 2007	25	33
Fall 2008	26	30
Fall 2009	26	30
Fall 2010	26	30
Fall 2011	26	30
Fall 2012	26	30
Fall 2013	26	30
Fall 2019	25	30
Fall 2020	25	30
Fall 2021	26	31
Fall 2022	27	32
Fall 2023	27	32
Fall 2024	27	31

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

1,607Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at The University of the South rose from 1,329 (Fall 2002) to 1,607 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	1,329
Fall 2003	1,349
Fall 2004	1,359
Fall 2005	1,402
Fall 2006	1,491
Fall 2007	1,455
Fall 2008	1,464
Fall 2009	1,450
Fall 2010	1,432
Fall 2011	1,454
Fall 2012	1,481
Fall 2013	1,599
Fall 2014	1,616
Fall 2015	1,689
Fall 2016	1,714
Fall 2017	1,683
Fall 2018	1,675
Fall 2019	1,669
Fall 2020	1,698
Fall 2021	1,725
Fall 2022	1,599
Fall 2023	1,598
Fall 2024	1,607

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

89%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at The University of the South has held near 89% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	84%
Fall 2003 cohort	88%
Fall 2004 cohort	88%
Fall 2005 cohort	92%
Fall 2006 cohort	87%
Fall 2007 cohort	88%
Fall 2008 cohort	90%
Fall 2009 cohort	85%
Fall 2010 cohort	90%
Fall 2011 cohort	86%
Fall 2012 cohort	91%
Fall 2013 cohort	88%
Fall 2014 cohort	89%
Fall 2015 cohort	88%
Fall 2016 cohort	88%
Fall 2017 cohort	89%
Fall 2018 cohort	88%
Fall 2019 cohort	87%
Fall 2020 cohort	90%
Fall 2021 cohort	89%
Fall 2022 cohort	88%
Fall 2023 cohort	89%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about The University of the South

15.8% of The University of the South's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes The University of the South as a primarily residential campus of 1,607 undergraduates — and 88.9% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

The University of the South's SAT section-percentile sums are 1260–1390 — their midpoint is above the TN four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on The University of the South's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How The University of the South compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

The University of the South56.9%

Tennessee median69.3%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

The University of the South$56,120

Tennessee median$21,400

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

The University of the South's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

The University of the South$64,911

Tennessee median$48,382

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

The University of the South, Tennessee and national reference values
Metric & basis	The University of the South	Tennessee median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	56.9%	69.3%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$56,120	$21,400	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$64,911	$48,382	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For The University of the South, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

The University of the South federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 7 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Economics	$87,762
Political Science and Government	$72,682
International/Globalization Studies	$70,907
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$59,821
Psychology, General	$58,715
English Language and Literature, General	$58,164
Biology, General	$47,695

These 7 fields listed for The University of the South measure earnings after completion. The $64,911 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 28 additional The University of the South fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does The University of the South report?

The University of the South's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1260–1390 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is The University of the South's acceptance rate?

56.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 2,676 admitted from 4,703 applicants.

How much does The University of the South cost?

At The University of the South, tuition is $56,120. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does The University of the South report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $64,911. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Tennessee

Rhodes College — 50.4% admitted
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville — 41.6% admitted
Freed-Hardeman University — 59.7% admitted
Fisk University — 37.4% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.