Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 52%, women at 61%.
Where applicants live
Tennessee applicants were admitted at 82%, applicants from other states at 82%, and international applicants at 8.2%.
All applicants in the same class: 56%
Of those admitted, 18% from Tennessee enrolled, against 18% from other states and 15% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
18% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 229 offered a place, 49 accepted, 5 admitted (10% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 71% admitted
176 of 248 early applicants; 56% of all applicants
Apply by Nov 15; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 15; decisions by Jan 31
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Dec 1; decisions by Jan 31
Where you stand
How U. the South reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both considered. Scores are optional. 24% of first-years sent an SAT and 36% an ACT. Of the 26% whose high school reported a rank, 27% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of science and foreign language (2 of each required). See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Important | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
82% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 56% of first-year applicants
50 applied · 41 admitted · 22 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Minimum college GPA: 3.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by June 1, decisions on a rolling basis, reply by July 1
- Spring entry: apply by November 1, decisions on a rolling basis, reply by December 3
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by February 1 for fall 2026.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $500 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: one year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; doesn't accept the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 2 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 4 |
| Social studies | 1 | 2 |
| History | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 13 | 20 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
27% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 69% in the top quarter, of the 26% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1290 on the SAT, 120 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
14% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
49% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
31% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
57% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
24% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 24% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 36% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
111 studentssubmitted ACT
164 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;The University of the South Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)