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Sewanee, TN · Jackson, TN
| The University of the South | Union University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $27,872/yr | $27,171/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $10,485/yr | $25,839/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $22,855 | $20,714 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,704/yr | $26,181/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $17,746/yr | $23,891/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,563/yr | $27,841/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $38,762/yr | $30,373/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $242/mo | $220/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $16,028/yr | $12,780/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $16,028/yr | $9,204/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $500/yr | $750/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,750/yr | $4,576/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $71,986/yr | $58,363/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $56,120/yr | $40,025/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $56,120/yr | $40,025/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 16% | 25% |
| Students taking federal loans | 34% | 42% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 57% | 60% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1260–1390 | 1160–1390 |
| SAT average | 1344 | 1256 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 27–31 | 22–30 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 29–35 · Math 25–29 | English 21–31 · Math 18–27 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 5,018 | 3,012 |
| Students accepted | 2,554 | 1,421 |
| Students who enrolled | 449 | 323 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 18% | 23% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 17% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 39% | 80% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 80% | 66% |
| Freshmen who come back | 89% | 89% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $64,911/yr | $53,990/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $39,809–$99,334 | $34,744–$78,063 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 82% | 65% |
| White students graduating | 81% | 69% |
| Black students graduating | 78% | 35% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 80% | 50% |
| Asian students graduating | 56% | 50% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $53,456/yr | $45,505/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 79% | 75% |
| Graduate on time | 73% | 60% |
| Pell students who graduate | 74% | 53% |
| First-gen students who finish | 59% | 57% |
| Low-income students who finish | 70% | 56% |
| Students who transfer out | 18% | 23% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $55,160/yr | $50,033/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 25% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 15% · English Language & Literature 9% | Health Professions 22% · Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 5% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 25% of degrees | Health Professions — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | English Language & Literature — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 5% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 8% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 5% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 7% of degrees | Public Administration & Social Service — 5% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Economics — $58,532/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $184,840/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 22% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,607 | 1,607 |
| Students per professor | 9 : 1 | 9 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 80 | 779 |
| Average professor pay | $10,158/mo | $8,181/mo |
| Full-time professors | 89% | 99% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $79,417 | $39,416 |
| Setting | Rural (distant) | City (small) |
| Location | Sewanee, TN | Jackson, TN |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1857 | 1873 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.6% | 1.9% |
| Men | 47% | 37% |
| Women | 53% | 63% |
| White students | 82% | 65% |
| Black students | 4% | 13% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 5.5% | 3% |
| Asian students | 0.8% | 1.9% |
| Two or more races | 3% | 3.7% |
| Other / not reported | 0.7% | 11% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 33% |
| Part-time students | 0.9% | 13% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.2% | 18% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $22,548/yr | $14,464/yr |
| Endowment | $499.9M | $60.2M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,800 | 1,286 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,948/yr | $8,826/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,390/yr | $4,340/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 21 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Protestant Episcopal | Southern Baptist |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | No | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division II without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 25 | 11 |
| Student athletes | 407 | 206 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $3.7M |
| Athletics budget | $5.8M | $6.9M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.8M | $7.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $121,687 | $47,528 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.