The University of the South
Sewanee, Tennessee · Private · 1,607 undergraduates · sewanee.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
56%
of 4,555 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1210 to 1360
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$84,110Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at The University of the South
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
56% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$84,110
a year in 2027-28, from a $84,110 sticker price
What to do with your 1310
Send your score
About 48% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1170, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Frequently Asked Questions | The University of the South · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Decision · November 15, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Dec1Early Action · December 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan15Early Decision II · January 15, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Feb1Regular Decision · February 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
56%
of applicants were admitted: 2,570 of 4,555 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 12/1, hear by 1/31.
Early Decision
Binding. 71% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
229 students were offered a spot; 5 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 24% of them sent SAT scores and 36% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1210 to 1360
Reading and Writing 615 to 700
Math 575 to 690
ACT composite 27 to 31
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160014%
- 1200 to 139962%
- 1000 to 119922%
- 800 to 9992%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$84,110
a year
- Tuition$62,490
- Fees$330
- Food and housing$17,960
- Books and supplies$830
- Transportation and other$2,500
The University of the South published $80,880 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$20,205
- $30,001 to $48,000$14,784
- $48,001 to $75,000$26,325
- $75,001 to $110,000$27,659
- Over $110,000$40,379
Financial aid
89%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$41,774
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
48%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $28,156 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid deadline: 2/1
- The last day to send aid forms.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Tennessee programs for residents
Ned McWherter Scholars Program
$6,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.75+ GPA, 1430+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Competitive merit award; application with transcript through first semester of senior year and official ACT/SAT; competitive, limited funding
Aspire Award
State program · In-state students
Up to $750/semester (4-year) or up to $250/semester (2-year) in addition to HOPE
- 3.00+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, Need-based HOPE supplement; meet HOPE requirements and parents' (or independent student's and spouse's) AGI of $36,000 or less
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS)
State program · In-state students
Up to $500/semester in addition to HOPE (including summer)
- 3.75+ GPA, 1330+ SAT or 29+ ACT, HOPE supplement (TN public or category 1-3 private HS graduates); must meet HOPE Scholarship requirements; FAFSA, from Tennessee
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
State program · In-state students
4-year (and 2-year with housing): up to $2,250/semester freshman & sophomore, up to $2,850/semester junior & senior; 2-year: up to $1,600/semester
- 3.00+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, HOPE Scholarship (entering freshmen); enroll within 16 months of HS graduation; FAFSA
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
35 of 35
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $6,250Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | |
| Art History | 4 | 4 | |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 101 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 4 | MATH 102 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 | |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | |
| European History | 4 | 4 | |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | GRMN 204 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 | |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 | |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON 120 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | POLS 101 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 4 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
79%
Come back for a second year
89%
Typical earnings
$72,175
a year, 10 years after starting here
- The University of the South$87,730
- All colleges$89,628
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 6 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with The University of the South. The The University of the South logo is a trademark of the college.