Sewanee vs. Vanderbilt

Should I go to Sewanee The University of the South or Vanderbilt University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Sewanee or Vanderbilt is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Sewanee The University of the South vs. Vanderbilt University comparison
Sewanee The University of the South Vanderbilt University College 3 College 4
Sewanee The University of the South Vanderbilt University
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Overview

Sewanee Vanderbilt
Location Sewanee, TN Nashville, TN
Setting Distant Rural Large City
Enrollment 1,693 13,456
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #82 #14
Religious Affiliation Protestant Episcopal - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sewanee.edu vanderbilt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Sewanee Vanderbilt
Tuition (In State) $53,418 $61,618
Tuition (Out of State) $53,418 $61,618
Room & Board $15,338 $21,054
Avg Net Price $33,616 $26,689
Avg Grant Aid $35,088 $57,723
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 66%

Admission

Sewanee Vanderbilt
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,018 45,313
Admitted 2,554 2,844
Acceptance Rate 50.9% 6.3%
Enrolled % 17.6% 57%
Avg High School GPA - 3.89
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 27/32 34/35
SAT Range 1236/1398 1510/1560
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Sewanee Vanderbilt
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • General Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Sewanee Vanderbilt
Graduation Rate 86% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,800 $83,100
Making Student Loan Payments 83% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $196 $144

Diversity

Sewanee Vanderbilt
% Men 3% 19%
% Women 2% 28%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 55%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Sewanee Vanderbilt
% In-State 25% 13%
% Out-of-State 72% 75%

Campus

Sewanee Vanderbilt
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Vanderbilt University is larger than than Sewanee based on total student enrollment (13,456 students vs. 1,693 students)

Sewanee vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sewanee or Vanderbilt?

  • Vanderbilt University is 15.4% more expensive to attend than Sewanee for in-state tuition ($61,618.00 vs. $53,418.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at Vanderbilt than Sewanee The University of the South ($61,618.00 vs. $53,418.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vanderbilt University than Sewanee ($26,689 vs. $33,616)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sewanee The University of the South are 37.3% lower than costs at Vanderbilt University ($15,338 vs. $21,054)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sewanee The University of the South than Vanderbilt University (97% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 64.5% larger than aid received Sewanee The University of the South ($57,723 vs. $35,088)

Sewanee vs. Vanderbilt Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sewanee or Vanderbilt? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Vanderbilt or Sewanee .

  • Sewanee has a higher acceptance rate (50.9%) than Vanderbilt (6.3%)

Sewanee vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Sewanee or Vanderbilt? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Vanderbilt and Sewanee.

  • The graduation rate at Vanderbilt is higher than Sewanee The University of the South (92% vs. 86%)
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn on average $33,300 more per year than Sewanee graduates after ten years. ($83,100 vs. $49,800)
  • Vanderbilt University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Sewanee graduates. ($14,000 vs. $19,000)
  • Vanderbilt graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Sewanee graduates. ($144 vs. $196)
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sewanee students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/