Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
The University of the South is a private liberal arts college located in Sewanee, Tennessee. The University of the South is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at The University of the South is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $56,404 10 years after enrolling, 4th in Tennessee, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, The University of the South bachelor students earn 1% more than the national average. The University of the South is ranked 18th in Tennessee.
The University of the South’s median net annual cost of $34,455 and average years to graduate of 4.2 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at The University of the South sorted by number of graduates - Economics, Psychology, Poli Sci/Government, English Language & Lit, History, International studies - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$34,455
Average years to graduate
4.2
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #185
Economic score: 16.58
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.2 years. 79% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at The University of the South is 22% higher than the state average, and 10% above the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At The University of the South, Pell Grant recipients represent 16% of the measured graduating class, 19% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at The University of the South graduates within 4.2 years.
The University of the South is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
The University of the South’s economic mobility score of 10.06 is calculated by adjusting the 2.86 economic score of lower-income students by the 16% pell grant recipients within the student body. The University of the South’s EMS of 10.06 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at The University of the South pays $34,455 a year, $30,175 less than the $64,630 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $34,455
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At The University of the South, 95% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $34,455 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 74% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,329. This is 20% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,329
Pell grants
$4,952
State grants
$4,909
Institutional grants
$32,845
The University of the South's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 60% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 4,162 applicants, of which 2,508 were admitted and 474 enrolled. The University of the South doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
96%
59%
In-state
22%
68%
1st generation
13%
35%
White
81%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
7%
12%