The University of the South

The University of the South is a private, religious school in a small town setting in Sewanee, Tennessee. Sewanee was founded in 1857 and now enrolls around 1,800 students a year, including 1,716 undergrads. Sewanee offers housing for up to 1,718 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 98% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Sewanee! Love music or performing? Sing in a chorus or perform with one of Sewanee's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Sewanee students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Thinking of pledging? Sewanee has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Sewanee has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Sewanee on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Sewanee on the Student Life page.

Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2022 is February 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should receive admissions decisions by March 15.

Is Sewanee a Good School?

Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how competitive a college is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a closer look at each of these factors to get a better sense of what Sewanee offers and if it could be a good choice for you.

Sewanee Acceptance Rate 2021

It is very difficult to get into Sewanee. Sewanee admitted 56% of all applicants in 2021. Out of 4,191 applications received in 2021, 2,350 students were offered admission.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Sewanee

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Sewanee, around 86% return for the next year. Around 80% of students who started at Sewanee earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outcomes for Sewanee Grads

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 63% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Sewanee's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. Sewanee's endowment was valued at $419.5 million in 2021, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, Sewanee spends about $19,034 a year.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Sewanee

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Sewanee meets 88% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $46,880 a year.

In 2020, students graduated with an average of $29,676 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! No one should ever pay to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Sewanee. Based on this information, how does Sewanee sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Sewanee a good school for you?

If The University of the South seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

Still Doing Your Research?

Choose one of the options below to learn more about Sewanee:

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Where is Sewanee?

Sewanee is located in the small town setting of Sewanee, Tennessee, less than an hour from Chattanooga.

If you want to see Sewanee for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 24 to Sewanee, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Chattanooga Metropolitan.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Sewanee and Sewanee are like without leaving home.

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