The University of the South
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.
Located in Sewanee, TN, The University of the South is a private four-year college. It has a campus size of 13,000 acres. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 52%. The freshman retention rate at The University of the South is 88.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 82%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. The transfer application deadline is June 1.
Learn more about what The University of the South has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,613
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
52%
Acceptance Rate
$53,418
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
82%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most important data you need to know about admission at The University of the South.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,395 in 2023. The University of the South has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores for the candidates who choose to submit them. 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 provides a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
24% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 41% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 19% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 54% between 1,200 and 1,399, 23% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 4% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 43, 47 between 24-29, 9 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 657 and an average SAT Math score of 620.
Deadlines
The closing date for applications to The University of the South is February 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is June 1.
52%
Acceptance Rate
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. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for The University of the South was 88.8% in 2023, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 82%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the right place for you is not easy. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at The University of the South in 2023 was 1,704.
That year, the institution had 79% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,613, 74 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 15 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 788 male and 869 female full-time students in 2023, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. This school had 36 full-time graduate male and 31 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 17 Asian students and 68 Afro-American students in 2023. 96 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 46 as multirace. There were also 6 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about The University of the South estimated tuition costs.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $53,418 in 2023. Since The University of the South is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $286 in 2023.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At The University of the South, the 2023 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $15,338. If you only needed a dorm room, you had to pay $7,948 for the 2023 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $7,948.
| Tuition | $ 53,418 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,338 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 69,956 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at The University of the South.
According to the most recent data, 245 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $45,277.
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.
772 students were awarded 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 783. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $1,441,873, and state $1,151,416. The students of The University of the South received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $28,660,287, and external in the amount of $404,782.
$22,906
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. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
152 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2023. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 66 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $17,762,776. 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 $454,157 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.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2023, this ratio at The University of the South was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 248 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 138 male and 98 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at The University of the South is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at The University of the South.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 100 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. That includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 57 and female students 61. The most popular student organization is Sewanee Forestry Club, followed by Sewanee Health Professions Society and Organization for Cross Cultural Understanding. Other popular organizations at The University of the South are Office of Civic Engagement and Sewanee Outing Program.
If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. 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 important for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
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 all you need for a comfortable stay.
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 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 53,418 USD per academic year for The University of the South.
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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.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for The University of the South is 52%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for The University of the South is 88.8%.
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.