Tennessee Wesleyan University vs The University of the South

Tennessee Wesleyan University and The University of the South, both located in Tennessee, offer distinct educational experiences. Tennessee Wesleyan, a private Christian university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to The University of the South's selective admissions (33%). While Tennessee Wesleyan's student body is predominantly female (60%), The University of the South maintains a more balanced gender ratio. Both institutions excel in different areas: Tennessee Wesleyan is known for its strong nursing and business programs, while The University of the South is recognized for its liberal arts and sciences curriculum. With Tennessee Wesleyan's lower cost of attendance and The University of the South's higher graduation rate, prospective students are encouraged to explore the detailed comparison table to discover which university better aligns with their academic aspirations and personal preferences.
The University of the South logo

The University of the South

Tennessee Wesleyan University logo

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Overview

Location Sewanee, Tennessee Athens, Tennessee
Campus setting Rural: Distant Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 90.0% 69.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation Protestant Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 60.3% 59.6%
Application fees
SAT range 1200 - 1390 930 - 1180
ACT range 26 - 31 18 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 25.0% 10.0%
Students submitting ACT score 49.0% 81.0%
Total number of applicants 4,162 884
Total number of admissions given out 2,508 527
Admitted students who chose to enroll 474 183
Yield rate 18.9% 34.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $66,480 $39,490
Average net price $29,626 $15,072
Tuition $49,146 $25,340
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,314

Meal plan: $6,798
Room/dormitory: $2,230

Meal plan: $6,170
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

95.0%
Average amount $35,383
100.0%
Average amount $20,251
Students receiving federal student loan 74.0%
Average amount $5,329
62.0%
Average amount $5,059
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
4.0%
Average amount $7,269

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,735
Men 47.1% Women 52.9%
974
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
Graduate students 85
Men 58.8% Women 41.2%
112
Men 23.2% Women 76.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 77.6% N/A
International students 3.9% 6.2%
Campus local/setting Rural: Distant Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 1,800 446
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Tennessee Georgia North Carolina Texas Alabama N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Theology
  • History
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 80.2% 51.7%
Dropout rate 1.9% 35.4%
Transferred out 17.9% 12.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Theological and Ministerial Studies (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,807
  • Year 2: $75,204
  • Year 3: $77,812
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,532
  • Year 2: $47,595
  • Year 3: $63,733
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,235
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: $52,168
International/Global Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,960
  • Year 3: $47,601
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,230
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $38,096
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,774
  • Year 3: $33,693
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $15,922
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,028
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: N/A
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $50,401
  • Year 3: $51,542
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,842
  • Year 2: $39,009
  • Year 3: $47,769
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $37,580
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $34,978
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $36,560
  • Year 3: N/A
Security Science and Technology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $30,409
  • Year 3: N/A
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: N/A
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A

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