Acceptance Rate
50%
Avg. SAT
1486
75th percentile
“Rhodes College delivers intimate liberal arts rigor wrapped in Memphis blues and barbecue, where Southern intellect meets urban grit.”
Memphis, TN
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
You'll step into Rhodes College, founded in 1848 as a Presbyterian outpost in rural Tennessee and reborn in Memphis in 1925 after a fraternity wager turned relocation dream into reality, renamed in 1984 for a local philanthropic family rather than the Oxford namesake. This small liberal arts gem attracts curious overachievers who crave close-knit debates over party marathons—think collaborative Southern gentlemen and scholars who organize service trips as casually as tailgates. The campus pulses with a genteel yet gritty personality: ivy-draped Gothic halls amid oak groves, fostering leaders who blend empathy with ambition. Memphis envelops you in soul-stirring music on Beale Street, civil rights landmarks like the Lorraine Motel, and world-famous ribs, but tradeoffs loom large—higher urban crime rates mean you'll navigate caution off-campus, and the humid summers test your resolve compared to idyllic New England college towns.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Rhodes' classrooms, expect professors who know your name from day one thanks to the 11:1 ratio—more personal than at most selective liberals arts peers—leading seminars where you dissect Faulkner alongside biochemistry in the signature "Rhodes Formula" blending majors with interdisciplinary quests. Standouts include the accounting program, which feeds top firms like Deloitte at rates rivaling bigger business schools, and neuroscience or urban studies leveraging Memphis' social pulse for hands-on research; you'll co-author papers or intern at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital nearby. Yet, with just 2,500 undergrads, niche majors like engineering force transfers or dual degrees elsewhere, and the heavy liberal arts load demands self-starters who thrive without vast research empires.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,838 undergrad • 23 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
62%
Black / African American
10%
Hispanic / Latino
7%
Asian
9%
Other / Multi-racial
13%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Memphis, TN
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week at Rhodes unfolds in a rhythm of morning lectures, afternoon club meetings—perhaps Model UN or the a cappella Lynxones—and evenings in one of 12 themed residential houses where you grill with housemates or join Fishbein's Follies, the uproarious student sketch comedy roast. Traditions like the springtime Rites of Spring music fest or the midnight Lynxhowl bonfire forge bonds in this unpretentious, service-minded scene where frats exist but Greek life hums quietly at 40% participation. The vibe suits friendly extroverts who dive into community, but introverts or party seekers might find the tame social pulse—fueled more by Overton Park picnics than ragers—and steamy Tennessee weather a drag, especially if you hail from cooler climes.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Southern Athletic Association
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$14,822
$30K – $48K
$15,048
$48K – $75K
$24,018
$75K – $110K
$26,672
$110K+
$35,871
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
92%
4 Years Graduation Rate
81%
6 Years Graduation Rate
85%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$66,651
92% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Rhodes College and return in the fall. 81% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 85% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
81%
4-6 years
4%
Non-grad
15%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$52,000
Acceptance
50%
Undergrads
1,838
4-Year Grad Rate
81%
Endowment
$332M
Memphis, TN 38112-1690
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