Xavier vs. Sewanee

Deciding between Xavier University and The University of the South? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Xavier University
The University of the South

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Xavier Cincinnati, OH
  • Sewanee Sewanee, TN
  • Setting
  • Xavier Large City
  • Sewanee Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Xavier 5,501
  • Sewanee 1,724
  • Type
  • Xavier Private 4 Year
  • Sewanee Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Xavier #269
  • Sewanee #89
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Xavier Roman Catholic
  • Sewanee Protestant Episcopal
  • Status
  • Xavier Non-profit
  • Sewanee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Xavier
  • Sewanee
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Xavier $50,640
  • Sewanee $56,120
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Xavier $50,640
  • Sewanee $56,120
  • Room & Board
  • Xavier $13,920
  • Sewanee $16,028
  • Average Net Price
  • Xavier $33,623
  • Sewanee $34,815
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Xavier $32,088
  • Sewanee $37,171
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Xavier 100%
  • Sewanee 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Xavier 14,631
  • Sewanee 4,703
  • Admitted
  • Xavier 12,642
  • Sewanee 2,676
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Xavier 86.4%
  • Sewanee 56.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Xavier 7.3%
  • Sewanee 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Xavier 1210
  • Sewanee 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Xavier 25
  • Sewanee 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Xavier 3.68
  • Sewanee -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Xavier A-
  • Sewanee -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Xavier Challenging
  • Sewanee Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Xavier
  • Sewanee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Xavier 22/29
  • Sewanee 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • Xavier 1103/1310
  • Sewanee 1260/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Xavier Test optional
  • Sewanee Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Xavier
  • Sewanee Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Xavier 10:1
  • Sewanee 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Xavier
    • Business (28%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Sewanee
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Xavier 77%
  • Sewanee 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Xavier $54,500
  • Sewanee $49,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Xavier 72%
  • Sewanee 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Xavier $27,000
  • Sewanee $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Xavier $279
  • Sewanee $196
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Xavier 42%
  • Sewanee 47%
  • % Women
  • Xavier 58%
  • Sewanee 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Xavier Low
  • Sewanee Low
  • HBCU
  • Xavier No
  • Sewanee No
  • % White
  • Xavier 72%
  • Sewanee 82%
  • % Asian
  • Xavier 3%
  • Sewanee 2%
  • % Black
  • Xavier 10%
  • Sewanee 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Xavier 5%
  • Sewanee 5%
  • % Native American
  • Xavier 0%
  • Sewanee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Xavier 0%
  • Sewanee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Xavier 4%
  • Sewanee 3%
  • % International
  • Xavier 2%
  • Sewanee 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Xavier 5%
  • Sewanee 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Xavier 45%
  • Sewanee 24%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Xavier 53%
  • Sewanee 71%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Xavier Yes
  • Sewanee Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Xavier No
  • Sewanee Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Xavier Yes
  • Sewanee Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Xavier Yes
  • Sewanee No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Xavier No
  • Sewanee Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH with The University of the South in Sewanee, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Xavier University is larger than Sewanee based on total student enrollment (5,501 students vs. 1,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Xavier University is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); The University of the South is in Sewanee, TN (Distant Rural setting).
  • Xavier University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of the South is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Xavier University 10:1; The University of the South 9:1.

Xavier vs. Sewanee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Xavier or Sewanee? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Xavier University than Sewanee ($33,623 vs. $34,815).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Xavier University are 13.2% lower than at The University of the South ($13,920 vs. $16,028).
  • The University of the South is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Xavier (about $5,480 more per year; $56,120.00 vs. $50,640.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.8% higher at Sewanee than at Xavier University (about $5,480 more per year; $56,120.00 vs. $50,640.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Xavier University than at The University of the South (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of the South students is 15.8% larger than aid received by Xavier University students ($37,171 vs. $32,088).

Xavier vs. Sewanee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Xavier or Sewanee? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sewanee and Xavier.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of the South (1330) is 120 points higher than at Xavier (1210).
  • Incoming Sewanee students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Xavier).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Xavier University 1103/1310; The University of the South 1260/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Xavier University 22/29; The University of the South 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Xavier - Test optional; Sewanee - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Sewanee Feb 1, 2027.
  • Xavier has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than Sewanee (56.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.3% at Xavier vs. 17.9% at Sewanee.

Xavier vs. Sewanee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Xavier and Sewanee? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • The University of the South's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Xavier University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Xavier University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than Sewanee graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,500 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of the South graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Xavier graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Sewanee graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Xavier graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More Sewanee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Xavier students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.