College Intel
← Back to colleges

The University of the South

Private

Sewanee, TN

Visit website ↗

The University of the South is a private small school in Sewanee, TN, enrolling about 1,607 undergraduates. Admissions are moderately selective here -- roughly 57% of applicants get in. Social Sciences graduates, especially in Economics, report the strongest earnings here: a median of $87,762/year. On-campus housing isn't required, so many students live off campus.

Admissions

Admit rate57%
SAT range1260–1390
ACT range27–31
Undergrads1,607
Yield (admits who enroll)17%
Next deadlineNot reported

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$71,986
4-year grad rate81%
Median earnings, 10yr out$64,911

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against The University of the South's numbers?

Check your chances here

How The University of the South weighs your application

From The University of the South's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayImportant
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesImportant
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how The University of the South actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what The University of the South weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans34%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out83%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$47,695/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$58,164/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$59,821/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
International/Globalization Studies$70,907/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$58,715/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$87,762/yr
Political Science and Government$72,682/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity1,800
Typical room charge$7,570
Typical board charge$7,038

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does The University of the South look for in applicants?

Per The University of the South's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, recommendations as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

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

The University of the South in Sewanee, TN admits approximately 57% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for The University of the South?

Admitted students at The University of the South typically score between 1260–1390 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for The University of the South?

Admitted students at The University of the South typically score between 27–31 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does The University of the South cost?

The University of the South's total cost of attendance is reported at $71,986 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

Does The University of the South require students to live on campus?

No -- The University of the South doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing The University of the South against another school?

Open the comparison view