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Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2026-2027 cycle

Sewanee - University of the South acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 57%, Sewanee - University of the South is a moderately selective private college in Tennessee. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Sewanee - University of the South
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Sewanee - University of the South weighs, where it ranks among Tennessee schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1230, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
57%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
1260-1390
of admitted students
Type
Private
Sewanee, TN
Average net price
$27,872
per year after aid

What do students study at Sewanee - University of the South?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Social Sciences · 92 (22.9%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 52 (13%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 50 (12.5%)Psychology · 47 (11.7%)English Language and Literature · 40 (10%)Business, Management and Marketing · 20 (5%)Visual and Performing Arts · 19 (4.7%)Natural Resources and Conservation · 15 (3.7%)Foreign Languages and Linguistics · 13 (3.2%)Mathematics and Statistics · 12 (3%)History · 12 (3%)

Will I get into Sewanee - University of the South?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Sewanee - University of the South, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Sewanee - University of the South?

Sewanee - University of the South admits most qualified applicants (around 57%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Sewanee - University of the South in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Sewanee - University of the South hard to get into?

Sewanee - University of the South is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 57% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Sewanee - University of the South?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Sewanee - University of the South, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Sewanee - University of the South reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Sewanee - University of the South →

Your chances at Sewanee - University of the South by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Sewanee - University of the South for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Sewanee - University of the South with a 3.5 GPA and a 1330 SAT?

About 93% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1330 SAT, the middle of Sewanee - University of the South's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1390 SAT comes out near 97%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Sewanee - University of the South by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 126025th pctSAT 1330middleSAT 139075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.965%Likely72%Safety72%Safety46%Likely
3.281%Safety85%Safety85%Safety69%Likely
3.590%Safety93%Safety93%Safety86%Safety
3.895%Safety97%Safety97%Safety94%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/sewanee-university-of-the-south.

How to get into Sewanee - University of the South

Built from Sewanee - University of the South's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Sewanee - University of the South, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Sewanee - University of the South carries about a 3.37 core GPA and a 1340 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1260 to 1390 SAT (27 to 31 ACT). Submit a score at 1325 or higher; below 1260, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Sewanee - University of the South weighs

Sewanee - University of the South rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: essays that sound like you and answer the actual prompt, and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

An early application signals interest and gets your file read before the pool fills. Most early deadlines fall on November 1 and Regular Decision on January 1 to 15; confirm Sewanee - University of the South's exact dates at www.sewanee.edu.

See your odds and your top moves at Sewanee - University of the South →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.sewanee.edu ↗

How many students apply to Sewanee - University of the South, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Sewanee - University of the South received 5,018 applications and admitted 2,554, an acceptance rate of 50.9%. 449 enrolled. Only about 18% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Sewanee - University of the South enrolls about 1,607 undergraduates in total, 53% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.

Applied
5,018
fall 2023
Admitted
2,554
50.9% of applicants
Enrolled
449
18% yield
Undergraduates
1,607
Sewanee, distant rural

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Sewanee - University of the South?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Sewanee - University of the South scored between 1260 and 1390 on the SAT (average 1344). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 27 to 31. A score above 1390 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1260 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Sewanee - University of the South is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1260-1390
average 1344
ACT middle 50%
27-31
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Sewanee - University of the South looks for

What Sewanee - University of the South weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Sewanee - University of the South leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Sewanee - University of the South's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Very important
Recommendations
Very important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Religious affiliation / commitment
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Sewanee - University of the South

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Sewanee - University of the South
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1230 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Sewanee - University of the South cost after financial aid?

Sewanee - University of the South's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $71,986 per year. Tuition and fees alone are $56,120. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $27,872 a year, and it ranges from $10,485 for families earning under $30,000 to $38,762 for families earning over $110,000. 16% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$71,986
per year, before aid
Average net price
$27,872
after grants and scholarships
Pell recipients
16%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$10,485
$30k to $48k$10,704
$48k to $75k$17,746
$75k to $110k$22,563
Over $110k$38,762

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Sewanee - University of the South graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Sewanee - University of the South student who received federal aid earns $64,911 a year, up from $53,456 at six years. 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 89% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $22,855; 34% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$64,911
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
80%
within six years
Retention
89%
return for year two
Median debt
$22,855
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Sewanee - University of the South compares in Tennessee

Sewanee - University of the South ranks #7 most selective of 33 schools in Tennessee in our database.

Among the 33 Tennessee schools we track, Sewanee - University of the South ranks #7 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Vanderbilt University (6%) and Fisk University (37%) sit nearby, which makes Tennessee a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

Vanderbilt University
6%acceptance · TN
Fisk University
37%acceptance · TN
University of Tennessee
42%acceptance · TN
Bryan College
48%acceptance · TN
Rhodes College
50%acceptance · TN
Lane College
55%acceptance · TN
Union University (TN)
60%acceptance · TN
Freed-Hardeman University
60%acceptance · TN
See all Tennessee schools →

Similar to Sewanee - University of the South

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Sewanee - University of the South with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Jacksonville University, Lindenwood University, and Marist University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Jacksonville University
57%acceptance · FL
Lindenwood University
57%acceptance · MO
Marist University
57%acceptance · NY
Alma College
57%acceptance · MI
Averett University
57%acceptance · VA
DePauw University
57%acceptance · IN

Frequently asked questions

What is Sewanee - University of the South's acceptance rate?

Sewanee - University of the South admitted 2,554 of 5,018 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 50.9% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 18% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Sewanee - University of the South?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1260 to 1390 on the SAT and 27 to 31 on the ACT. A score above 1390 is in the top quarter of admits. Sewanee - University of the South is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Sewanee - University of the South test-optional?

Yes. Sewanee - University of the South reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Sewanee - University of the South cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Sewanee - University of the South, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $27,872 a year against a sticker price of about $71,986. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,485 on average.

What do Sewanee - University of the South graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Sewanee - University of the South are $64,911 a year among students who received federal aid, and 80% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Sewanee - University of the South value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Sewanee - University of the South weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and application essay most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Sewanee - University of the South consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Sewanee - University of the South's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Sewanee - University of the South?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Sewanee - University of the South specifically.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.