The University of the South
Sewanee, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 56.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of the South (Sewanee) scores 68 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The institution's profile is unusual: strong completion (79.8%, sub-score 89) and repayment rates (87.3%, sub-score 91) tell a story of graduating students who manage their debt well - but modest earnings and a high net price drag the overall ROI score down. Average six-year earnings are $38,200 against a $27,872 net price, yielding an 8.4-year payback period. The earnings premium raw score of 0.268 reflects the disconnect between a $56,120 sticker tuition and outcomes in Sewanee's predominantly liberal arts curriculum. Economics is the standout program: 45 graduates, $58,532 year-one, $87,762 at year four, B grade. Biology earns an F grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.045 - the 35 biology graduates likely include a significant premed cohort whose near-term earnings are suppressed by medical school enrollment. International Relations (38 graduates, D grade) and Psychology (46 graduates, C+ grade) represent more typical liberal arts trajectories. Sewanee's 10-year median of $64,911 is more reflective of the long-run career premium its liberal arts graduates build through graduate and professional school.
The University of the South
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $56,120/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $56,120/yr |
| Average net price | $27,872/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $111,488 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,911 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,855 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $242 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 79.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,607 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $56,120/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,872/year, or roughly $111,488 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,485/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,762/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,855, which works out to about $242 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,200) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,485 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,704 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,746 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,563 |
| $110,001+ | $38,762 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $10,485 per year at Sewanee. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $10,704, nearly identical. For low-income students who gain admission, Sewanee's aid model is aggressive. A four-year cost of roughly $42,000 at the bottom bracket against 79.8% completion, 87.3% repayment, and $64,911 ten-year median earnings creates a defensible financial case. Economics and well-resourced professional school placement make the investment work for the most financially prepared students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,746 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,563. Both are below the $27,872 average, confirming Sewanee's commitment to aid across income bands. At $17-23k per year and 8.4-year payback at median earnings, the value case is fair but not exceptional. Students in the economics track with clear career goals have a stronger financial case; humanities students with graduate school plans need to factor in additional debt carefully.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001 and above pay $38,762 per year at Sewanee - a four-year total of roughly $155,000. At this price, the 8.4-year payback period on $38,200 average earnings creates significant financial stretch, particularly for students entering lower-earning liberal arts careers. Full-pay families are making a significant investment in the Sewanee experience and network - the question is whether the $64,911 ten-year median earnings, plus any professional school premium, justifies $155,000 at the high-income bracket.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at The University of the South with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $58,715 | C+ |
| Economics | $87,762 | B |
| International Relations | $72,682 | D |
| Biology | $47,695 | F |
| International/Globalization Studies | $70,907 | C+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $35,204 | - |
| Romance Languages | $59,821 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $58,164 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Economics
Economics is Sewanee's highest-earning program and the best financial case for enrollment: 45 graduates, $58,532 year-one, $87,762 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.424 (B grade). Median debt of $24,798 is manageable at these earnings levels. The four-year jump to $87k reflects placement into finance, consulting, and business roles. At a $27,872 net price and the Sewanee alumni network, economics graduates have a financially defensible case, though the B grade reflects that cost remains a headwind.
Psychology
Psychology (46 graduates) earns $35,379 year-one and $58,715 at year four, with a C+ grade and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.485. Median debt of $17,148 is notably low - likely reflecting strong aid packaging for this cohort. Students planning graduate work in psychology should factor in additional borrowing.
Biology
Biology (35 graduates) earns an F ROI grade: $23,932 year-one, $47,695 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.045. This is Sewanee's worst financial outcome on paper, but the F grade almost certainly reflects a premed cohort in medical school at year one and year four, showing near-zero earnings while in training. Biology graduates at Sewanee who do not attend professional school face a genuinely difficult near-term financial picture, with $25,000 median debt against $23,932 year-one earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The University of the South’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 56.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-710 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-31 |
| Enrollment | 1,607 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,158 |
Sewanee admits 56.9% of applicants. SAT Math is 620-680 and Reading 640-710. ACT composite is 27-31. Sewanee's mission and culture mean admissions weighs character, intellectual curiosity, and fit alongside academic credentials. The campus's distinctiveness - physically remote, Episcopal, deeply residential - creates self-selection; students who apply generally understand what they are choosing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Sewanee (ROI 68) sits in the Fair Value tier. Sewanee's 79.8% completion rate and 87.3% repayment rate are its strongest Scorecard metrics, reflecting institutional quality that does not appear in earnings numbers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of the South (this school) | 68 | $27,872 | $64,911 |
| St Lawrence University | 69 | $28,651 | $67,258 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| Lawrence Technological University | 65 | $32,918 | $69,151 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
Who Thrives Here
Sewanee admits 56.9% of applicants, making it moderately selective. SAT mid-ranges are 620-680 Math and 640-710 Reading. Enrollment is 1,607 undergraduates on a residential mountain campus in Tennessee. The Pell grant rate of 15.9% is low, reflecting a predominantly middle- and upper-income student body. The Episcopal liberal arts tradition and tight residential community are core draws. Students who fit Sewanee typically value small seminar environments, outdoor culture, and a traditional liberal arts education over professional-track optimization. The financial case is strongest for students entering economics or planning professional school after graduation.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
The University of the South is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $27,872 a year after aid ($111,488 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $64,911 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 79.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,855 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
The University of the South: Common Questions
Is The University of the South worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether The University of the South is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $27,872 a year after aid ($111,488 over four years) against $64,911 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does The University of the South cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $27,872 a year, or roughly $111,488 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do The University of the South graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,911 ten years after enrolling, roughly $23,111 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off The University of the South?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.4 years for The University of the South. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The University of the South graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,855, against average earnings of $38,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at The University of the South?
The six-year graduation rate is 79.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.