Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
- More
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 and set in a rural environment. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 56%. The freshman retention rate at The University of the South is 88.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 80%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. The transfer application deadline is June 1.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about The University of the South.
Quick Facts
1,644
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$57,916
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
80%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Discover some important information about admission policy and requirements at The University of the South.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,676 in 2025. The University of the South has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unmatched educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 20% and ACT scores 43%. 20% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 61% between 1,200 and 1,399, 17% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 2% between 800 and 999. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 41, 43 between 24-29, 15 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 659 and an average SAT Math score of 632.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by February 1. When filling out the application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is June 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. 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 88.9% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 80%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best place for you is not a simple task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 1,724 students.
That year, the school had 76% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 1,644 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 57 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 20.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 782 male and 852 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 13 Asian students and 65 Afro-American students in 2025. 88 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 48 identified with more than one race. There were also 7 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for The University of the South.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at The University of the South? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $57,916 for all full-time domestic students. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $310.
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 approximate price of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $500.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
At The University of the South, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $16,628. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school cost $8,616, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $8,616.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 57,916 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,628 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 500 |
| Total Expense | $ 75,044 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish 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 consider.
According to the most recent data, 218 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $51,836.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
719 students were given 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 total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 730. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $2,074,891, and state $1,138,386. The students of The University of the South received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $30,043,880, and external in the amount of $243,456.
$26,657
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for 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.
187 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 60 full-time freshmen. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $23,040,040. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $541,701 USD.
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.
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 2025, 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 faculty of this school consists of 234 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 130 men and 104 women.
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 details about campus life at The University of the South.
It has a campus size of 13,000 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
According to recently gathered data, there are 83 open-membership organizations at The University of the South. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. 52 percent of male and 65 of female students participate in different organizations at The University of the South. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Sewanee Health Professions Society, followed by Forestry and Geology Club and Organization for Cross Cultural Understanding. Other popular organizations at The University of the South are Order of the Gown and Sewanee Outing Program.
For those interested in acting, there is a drama club you can become part of. Interested in media and communication? The University of the South publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
The University of the South offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has 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. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
FAQ
-
The University of the South is located in Sewanee, TN.
-
The University of the South offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for The University of the South is 57,916 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for The University of the South is 56%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for The University of the South is 88.9%.
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.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
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.
