I am going to walk you through what the federal government reports about this school: who studies there, how much it costs, how hard it is to get in, how much aid it provides, and what happens to the students who enroll. I am not going to tell you whether it is the right school for your child. No article can tell you that. But by the end, you will understand this piece of the puzzle well enough to put it alongside the other two: what your child wants and what your family can afford.
What kind of school it is, in one sentence
Let us start with the basics, because they determine much of what follows. The University of the South is a private, nonprofit, four-year institution classified as a baccalaureate college focused on arts and sciences. The Carnegie system—the way the United States categorizes its colleges and universities—describes it as a small, highly residential school: at least half of its students live in institution-owned housing, and at least 80 out of every 100 attend full time. It also places the school in its more selective admissions category.
None of that tells you yet how many out of every hundred applicants get in. That figure exists separately, and we will look at it later. For now, keep this in mind: it is not a large school, it is not an urban school, and it is not an open-admission school.
It is in Sewanee, in Franklin County, Tennessee, in an area the Census classifies as rural and remote from any large urban area. That does not tell you how long the drive from your home would take or how isolated your child might feel there; you need to find that out directly before deciding. If your family does not live nearby, you should assume that moving is part of the plan and calculate separately where your child would live and how your child would get home for Thanksgiving.
IPEDS—the system through which the United States government collects these data—records the doctoral degree as the highest level the institution reports offering and classifies it as an institution that primarily awards bachelor's degrees or higher credentials. That is an institutional fact, not a promise about your child's specific field: if your child is interested in a particular graduate program, you need to verify that it exists and that it connects with the undergraduate program.
And here is a truth worth stating directly, without hedging: The University of the South is not registered as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this federal directory, 138 do have at least one of those three designations. The fact that this one has none of them does not tell you which students it serves today or how your child would feel on that campus. Ask directly: what cultural centers exist, what student organizations are available, and—if you can—talk with someone who already studies there.
How many students there are, and who they are
This is where the number stops being abstract and starts to sound like a real school.
In the fall of 2023, The University of the South had a total enrollment of 1,693 students: 1,615 undergraduates and 78 graduate students. It is primarily a bachelor's-degree school of medium size—among the 941 selective private schools in this census that report this information, it falls right in the middle, neither among the largest nor among the smallest.
Of those undergraduate students, 7 out of every 100 are Hispanic or Latino. That is a small minority, and compared with similar schools, it falls below the midpoint of the group. I am not telling you that this makes the school bad, or that having many Latino students would by itself make it good: this figure counts who is enrolled, and nothing more. If your child would be one of only a few, that is not a minor detail in your child's daily experience, and during the visit it is worth asking which student group, cultural center, or person in the admissions office speaks Spanish and can offer guidance.
The undergraduate population is almost evenly divided between men and women: 53 out of every 100 are women. As for where they come from, only 25 out of every 100 first-time students reported permanent residence in Tennessee. The rest come from other states or countries, or their residence is not clearly reported. Put simply: most of the students who enroll there come from elsewhere. That matters if you are considering travel costs, the emotional distance of having a child move far away, or whether Sewanee would be the first place that truly feels unfamiliar to your child.
The student-to-instructional-staff ratio is 9 to 1—one of the lowest among similar schools. But be careful: that does not measure class size or guarantee individual attention. It is an institution-wide average. Ask directly how many students are in first-year classes before assuming anything.
How the academic year is organized and which degrees it awards
The University of the South uses a semester calendar: two long terms of about 15 weeks. It accepts credit from AP exams—it did not indicate that it accepts credit for life experience—and it also enrolls high school students in college courses through a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is a hard truth that can save you from an expensive disappointment: saying that the school accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam, or that the credit automatically applies to the program your child wants. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before counting those savings in your budget.
In a recent year, the school awarded 376 bachelor's degrees across 15 fields of study. The most popular field was social sciences, accounting for just 21 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—no other area accounts for the bulk of them. Its offerings are distributed across fields; this is not a school built around a single vocation. That does not measure quality or employability; it only counts degrees awarded in one year. If your child already has a major in mind, ask directly about that major: how many students graduate in it, how long they take, and what the actual curriculum is like.
The institution also reports one explicit structured academic opportunity: study abroad.
Getting in: what it requires, how many are accepted, and how many actually enroll
This is where the part that probably interests you most begins.
The University of the South does not have open admission. Of nine possible considerations reviewed in this report, not counting admission tests or legacy status, it marks six as required: the high school record, grade point average, completion of the required college-preparatory coursework, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English proficiency exam when applicable. It also considers—but does not require—class rank, a portfolio or competency exam, work experience, and whether a relative attended the school.
On that last point, I want to be clear: if no one in your family attended Sewanee, do not waste energy worrying about it. It is something your child cannot change. Spend that energy on the things your child can control: the essay, the letters, and the academic record.
The published application fee is $0. That removes a real barrier that other families do face.
Now for the figures that define how difficult it is to get in:
| Point in the process | Reported figure (cycle 2023) |
|---|---|
| First-time applicants | 5,018 |
| Received an offer of admission | 2,554 (51 out of every 100) |
| Did not receive an offer | 2,464 |
| Of those admitted, enrolled | 18 out of every 100 |
Let this sink in: half of those who apply receive a yes. Compared with the other 942 selective private schools in this census, that acceptance rate falls on the lower side—seven out of ten similar schools accept a higher percentage of their applicants. Admission is not guaranteed, but it is not a lottery either. The application does receive consideration.
But look at the second number, the one almost no one mentions in casual conversation: out of every six students who receive a yes from this school, roughly one decides to enroll. The other five had a place there and chose somewhere else. This is not a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made that decision—but it does tell you something important: what others decided does not tell you what the school will offer you. Wait for your own letter showing the actual net price before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
As for tests, the SAT and ACT are optional, not required. Of those who enrolled, only 17 out of every 100 submitted an SAT score, and among them, the middle half scored between 633 and 710 in reading and writing and between 603 and 688 in math. Those ranges describe students who were already admitted and chose to submit their scores—they are not a minimum your child must reach or a guarantee if your child reaches them.
And regarding transfers: of the bachelor's-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, only 13 out of every 100 are recorded as having transferred to another school without completing a degree there. That is a low rate compared with similar schools. Separately, in the fall of 2023, only 22 transfer students arrived from other institutions—a small incoming flow. If your child would arrive through that route, ask in writing, with the course list in hand, which credits the school would accept before your child moves.
The list price: what is published before any aid
Here comes the number that frightens most families, and I want to give it to you in full, without softening it, so we can then put it in its proper place.
For the 2023–24 year, the total published cost of attendance at The University of the South for a first-time, full-time student living on campus was $71,986. This figure is the same for Tennessee residents and out-of-state students—there is no residency discount here, unlike at many public universities.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $53,698 |
| On-campus housing and food | $15,338 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Other estimated expenses (transportation, laundry, etc.) | Included in the total |
| Total cost of attendance | $71,986 |
Compared with the other 888 similar schools, this published cost is among the highest in the group.
Now the part I truly want you to remember: this number is not a bill. It is the list price, the figure used to calculate aid, not what your family will necessarily pay. The only way to know how much it would cost your family is to complete the FAFSA and wait for the written financial aid offer. Until you have that in hand, this $71,986 tells you nothing about what you would actually pay.
The net price: what families actually pay, by income
At The University of the South, among 25 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $10,970. Among 29 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $18,421; among 97 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $37,122. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.
There is a difference of $26,152 between the average for the lowest-income band, which includes 25 students, and the average for the highest-income band, which includes 97 students. These are group averages, not a prediction of your family's price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $33,616.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this information with the same time coverage, this school falls in the least expensive quarter for the lowest-income families after grants and scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is a factor to weigh when you build the list of schools to apply to.
Because the price varies so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours is the first step. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average after grants and scholarships, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid offer you receive is what matters.
Aid and loans: who receives what
At The University of the South, 96 out of every 100 degree-seeking students receive some form of grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. Receiving something here is the norm, not the exception. Among those who receive it, the annual average was $34,063—but that average includes both those who received much more and those who received much less.
Here is an important distinction: the federal Pell Grant—intended for low-income families with demonstrated need—reached only 15 out of every 100 students. In other words, at least 81 out of every 100 aid recipients receive aid from another source, not from Pell. The report does not separate where each dollar comes from: ask the school directly who awards that grant or scholarship, what is required to qualify, and what is required to renew it each year.
And regarding loans, the figure I most want you to remember is this: 30 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan in the 2022-23 school year, with an average amount of $6,138 per student who borrowed. Compared with similar schools, this share of students with loans is on the low side.
That average of $6,138 covers only one year and only federal loans taken out in the student's name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit cards, nor is it the total debt with which someone graduates after four years. That figure—the cumulative debt at graduation—simply is not in this report.
This percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would have to borrow can be determined only from your child's own financial aid offer. Wait for that offer before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
The institution also reports an installment tuition payment plan as a formal mechanism for managing the cost.
Life outside the classroom: housing, sports, the library, and support services
The University of the South has its own housing, and although it does not require all first-time students to live there, it does offer meal plans with a fixed number of meals per week in its largest option. IPEDS reports a maximum housing capacity of 1,800 students. The existence of a room does not guarantee an assigned bed: ask in writing for the annual rate, the application deadline, and whether the school guarantees you a place or puts you on a waiting list.
As for ROTC, the school did not indicate any opportunity in its report—neither the general option nor any of the three branches—while 926 of the 1,786 four-year institutions in this guide did. If your child's plan depends on an ROTC scholarship, this school did not report ROTC as an option; but that does not prove that no nearby path exists. Ask admissions directly before crossing it off the list.
It does compete in intercollegiate sports and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported participation in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. That membership belongs to the school, not to your child: if your child is interested in playing, write directly to the coach for that sport and ask whether there is a place on the team, which division they compete in, and whether that sport awards athletic scholarships.
It does not offer distance education—not a single course, at either the undergraduate or graduate level. If your child works or cares for someone at home, the schedule will have to work entirely in person.
The library operates with paid staff, has physical and digital collections, and offers interlibrary lending. The support services it reports include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, on-campus childcare, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and a webpage for disability services. Reporting these services does not tell you how good they are or how they would feel to your child in practice: ask directly before deciding.
What happens after students enroll: retention and graduation
This is the section almost no one reads and probably the one that should matter most to you, because it tells you what happened to students who already made the decision your child is about to make.
Of the cohort that entered in the fall of 2022, 88 out of every 100 met the official retention criterion: a year later, they were still enrolled there or had already graduated. Compared with similar schools, this figure is near the top of the group. It is a high number, but it is not a final graduation rate and does not separate how many of those 88 are still studying from how many have already graduated.
For actual graduation, the cohort that started in 2017—448 first-time, full-time students—had the following outcomes six years later:
| Six-year outcome (cohort 2017, n=448) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Graduated here | 369 (82 out of every 100) |
| Transferred without completing here | 60 |
| Still enrolled without completing | 2 |
| No longer enrolled (federal category) | 17 |
| Completed a program of less than four years here | 0 |
Using the four-year period instead of six years, the rate falls to 74 out of every 100—a difference of 8 points worth keeping in mind if the family budget is designed for exactly four years rather than five or six. Compared with similar schools, this six-year figure of 82 out of every 100 places it in the top quarter: three out of four similar schools report an equal or lower share of graduates.
Expanding the window to eight years, using a different cohort that entered between 2015 and 2016, 81 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school. Among students who specifically received a Pell Grant, that figure was 75 out of every 100—seven points below the group without Pell.
I want to say this as clearly as possible, because it is the hard truth behind all these high percentages: a high number is not a promise about your child. It describes what happened to an earlier cohort under conditions that may not be repeated. What is in your hands—and your child's—is making sure your child arrives with the credits in order, knows from the first semester who the academic advisor is, and knows when to register for the courses required for the major. No IPEDS data guarantee that. You build it together, semester by semester.
Putting the pieces together
What this article cannot know, and should not pretend to know, is what your child wants to study, how far from home your child is willing to live, or how much your family can and is willing to commit each year for four years. Only your family has those second and third pieces.
If your family income falls within a lower band, this school's net price may surprise you in a good way—but only the financial aid offer bearing your child's name and yours will confirm it. If your child wants a college experience in a large city, it is worth making sure your child knows that Sewanee is rural and remote before falling in love with the campus in a photograph. If your child is interested in a specific sport or a program such as ROTC, ask that question directly and in writing rather than making assumptions from an unchecked box.
Your responsibility, as the adult in this story, is to complete the FAFSA on time, request the financial aid offer in writing before committing to anything, and sit down with your child to compare what this school would actually cost with the other schools you are considering. Your child's responsibility is to write the essay, gather the letters, and decide whether this small, remote community is where your child wants to spend the next four years. Neither of you can do the other's part.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from data reported by The University of the South to the United States Department of Education's IPEDS system, primarily for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, depending on the specific data point. Best College Aid does not represent The University of the South or any United States government agency; this article is an independent explanation of public data, not an official communication from the institution.