The University of the South

Sewanee, TN · SoutheastQuad's selectivitySelective

Known forTest-optional heavy

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

Fall 2025: 4,555 applied (fall 2024: 4,703)The University of the South (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: 2,570 admits (fall 2024: 2,676)The University of the South (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: 56% admitted (fall 2024: 57%)The University of the South (Fall 2025)
Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 615–700 (fall 2024: 640–710)The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26
Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 575–690 (fall 2024: 620–680)The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 88% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 89%)The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

6 in 10 applicants admitted

U. the South admits about 6 in 10 applicants (56%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 80% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

56%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

4,555

Admitted

2,570

Yield

18%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1210–1360

10001600

ACT middle 50%

27–31

1836

Applications +58% since fall 2014 · admit rate 65% → 57%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 1,607 undergrads, where 16% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

1.6K

undergrads · larger than 51% of colleges

Diversity index

0.31

Pell Grant

16%

below the median

First generation

13%

below the median

Rural, distantNCAA D-III · Southern Athletic AssociationStudy abroadUndergrad research

Steady · index 0.32 → 0.31 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (15% of graduates). 9 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 84% of colleges. 89% of faculty are full-time. Spends $22,548 a year on instruction per student.

9 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 84% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $35,395 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $11.1K more than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $34,815 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $71,986.

51%

$35.4K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $11.1K above the national median

Full price: $71,986 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 48% · avg $28K; of first-years without need got merit aid

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 51% of full price

Federal loans

34%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office

Cost falling · −13% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $64,911 ten years after enrolling, more than at 78% of colleges; 81% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.2 years of that salary.

81%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$64.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.9K

≈ $242/month for 10 years

Retention

88%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 79% → 80% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 14% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 13%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 58% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 65% to 57%.

Cost
Falling
−13% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+58%
Selectivity
More selective
admit rate 65% → 57% (to fall 2024)
Diversity
Steady
index 0.32 → 0.31

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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52% admit · SAT 1271 · 1.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Gustavus Adolphus College

61% admit · 1.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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St Lawrence University

56% admit · SAT 1338 · 1.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Concordia College at Moorhead

63% admit · 1.8K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26
The University of the South · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-10
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
The University of the South (2026)
The University of the South · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 221519 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything