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The University of the South

Sewanee, Tennessee · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Rural

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At a glance

Average net price
$27,872What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
57%
Graduation rate
81%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,607
In-state tuition
$56,120Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$56,120
SAT midpoint
1,295
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$64,911Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$27,872

Better than 27% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

81%

Better than 89% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$64,911

Better than 76% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$22,855

Better than 67% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$71,986

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$27,872

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for The University of the South
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time81%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return89%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$22,855
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$64,911

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at The University of the South by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Economics$58,53245
International/Globalization Studies$42,39016
Psychology, General$35,37946
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$35,20416
Political Science and Government$31,83138
English Language and Literature, General$31,218Not reported
Biology, General$23,93235
LiteratureNot reported34
HistoryNot reported30
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported20
Sustainability StudiesNot reported19
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported17
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reported15
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported11
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported10
MathematicsNot reported8
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported7
PhilosophyNot reported7
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported6
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported5
ForestryNot reported5
AnthropologyNot reported4
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported4
ChemistryNot reported3
Computer ScienceNot reported3
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
PhysicsNot reported3
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported3
MusicNot reported3
Area StudiesNot reported2
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported1
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported

All 35 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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