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Sewanee, TN
The University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee, is a highly esteemed liberal arts institution located in Sewanee, Tennessee. Established in 1857, it covers a sprawling 13,000-acre campus atop the Cumberland Plateau. The university is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and its distinct educational approach is deeply rooted in the Anglican tradition. Sewanee offers a rigorous undergraduate curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and a holistic approach to education.
At the heart of Sewanee's academic experience is its College of Arts and Sciences, which offers bachelor's degrees in over 40 majors, ranging from humanities and social sciences to natural and applied sciences. The university's dedication to small class sizes ensures that students receive personalized attention from faculty members, fostering a close-knit and supportive community. The Sewanee Pledge, a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2018, guarantees that eligible Tennessee students will receive full-tuition scholarships, significantly reducing the financial burden of attending this prestigious institution.
Beyond academics, Sewanee boasts a vibrant campus life, with more than 90 student-led clubs and organizations catering to a diverse range of interests. The university's strong emphasis on service and leadership is demonstrated through its robust community engagement programs, including a number of annual service events and partnerships with local nonprofits. Additionally, Sewanee's beautiful natural surroundings provide ample opportunities for outdoor exploration and recreational activities, making it an ideal environment for students to balance their studies with personal growth and wellbeing.
The University of the South is a private four-year college located in Sewanee, TN. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 50%. The freshman retention rate at The University of the South is 88.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 82%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is June 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about The University of the South.
Quick Facts
1,615
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$55,822
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
82%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Discover some essential data about admission policy and requirements at The University of the South.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,554 in 2024. The University of the South has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, The University of the South offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 21% and ACT scores 44%. 16% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 66% between 1,200 and 1,399, 17% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 1% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 42, 49 between 24-29, 8 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 657 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 620.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to The University of the South is February 1. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is June 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for The University of the South was 88.5% in 2024, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 82%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best fit for you is not simple. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at The University of the South in 2024 was 1,693.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 77. There was a total of 1,615 undergraduate students, including 72 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 22.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 771 male and 862 female full-time students in 2024, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school. This school had 36 full-time graduate male and 31 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at The University of the South.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 14, while the number of Afro-American students was 63. 103 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 42 as multirace. There were also 8 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $55,822 in 2024. The University of the South is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2024 had to pay additional fees in the amount of $298.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2024, room and board cost at The University of the South amounted to $16,028 a year. If you only needed a room on the campus, you had to pay $8,306 for the 2024 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $8,306.
| Tuition | $ 55,822 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,028 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 73,050 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for most students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at The University of the South, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 252 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $49,972 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
783 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at The University of the South is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 792. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $1,614,973, and state $1,355,917. The students of The University of the South received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $32,357,517, and external in the amount of $309,345.
$24,867
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 129 students overall (including freshmen) at The University of the South in 2024. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 57 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $18,847,922. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $392,612 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
-
Fall 2025 Transfer
Fall 2025 Transfer
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-06-01
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2024, this ratio at The University of the South was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 231. This number included 135 male and 96 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at The University of the South: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at The University of the South.
Its campus is 13,000 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 100. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 57% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 61 for female students. The student organization that is most favored by students is Sewanee Forestry Club, followed by Sewanee Health Professions Society and Organization for Cross Cultural Understanding. Other popular student organizations at this school are Office of Civic Engagement and Sewanee Outing Program.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For students who have a passion for media and communication, The University of the South publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At The University of the South, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of The University of the South.
All in all, campus life at The University of the South is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at The University of the South.
Career Counselling
At The University of the South, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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The University of the South is located in Sewanee, TN.
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The University of the South offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 55,822 USD per academic year for The University of the South.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for The University of the South is 50%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for The University of the South is 88.5%.
Contact Information
The University of the South,
735 University Avenue
Sewanee, TN
37383-1000
931 598-1000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.