The University of the South's published cost of attendance is $71,986. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,485, middle-income families pay around $17,746, and higher-income families pay approximately $38,762.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $71,986 |
| Tuition and Fees | $56,120 |
| Room and Board | $16,028 |
| Books and Supplies | $500 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$44,114 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $27,872 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,485 |
| $30–48k | $10,704 |
| $48–75k | $17,746 |
| $75–110k | $22,563 |
| $110k+ | $38,762 |
The University of the South's published cost of attendance is $71,986. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,485, middle-income families pay around $17,746, and higher-income families pay approximately $38,762. Azimuth ranks The University of the South #1202 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The University of the South structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid and federal student loans. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,855, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,450; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,966, median federal debt of $22,855 projects to a monthly payment of about $258 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt is well below typical first-year earnings — generally considered very manageable.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of the University of the South earn median 4-year earnings of $63,966, placing the university in the 63.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks The University of the South #459 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect both the university's liberal arts foundation and its social-sciences-centered program mix, which shapes the career trajectories of most graduates. The earnings pattern is anchored in the humanities and social sciences. Economics is the largest program with 49 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $87,762, representing 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General follows with 44 graduates earning $58,715, and Biology, General rounds out the top three with 41 graduates earning $47,695. Political Science and Literature complete the profile of the university's degree output, each contributing to a cohesive liberal arts outcomes story where graduates move into stable professional and graduate-school pathways aligned with their fields of study.
