Acceptance Rate
87%
Avg. SAT
1380
75th percentile
“Transylvania University delivers intimate liberal arts learning in the heart of Kentucky's horse country, where you'll debate philosophy amid bourbon distilleries and bluegrass fields.”
Lexington, KY
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
Founded in 1780 as the first college chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains by Presbyterian pioneers, Transylvania University carries a frontier spirit that's equal parts rugged history and scholarly grit—its very name, Latin for 'across the woods,' nods to the wild Kentucky territory it once tamed. You'll thrive here if you're a curious, collaborative student who craves close-knit discussions over massive lectures, drawn to a campus where professors know your name and classmates become lifelong friends. The school's personality feels like a hidden gem: proudly quirky, unpretentious, and deeply rooted in Southern hospitality, yet with a progressive edge from its early days as one of the first coeducational institutions in the South. Nestled in Lexington, a lively city of 320,000 blending horse racing buzz (think Keeneland track just minutes away), bourbon trails, and University of Kentucky's shadow, you'll enjoy urban perks like farm-to-table dining and live music without big-city chaos. Tradeoffs hit hard, though: at under 1,000 undergrads, options for niche majors or massive sports scenes dwindle, and Lexington's humid summers and occasional tornado watches test your adaptability.
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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 Transylvania's classrooms, expect animated seminars where your 10:1 student-faculty ratio means professors like the biologist leading frog dissections or the economist dissecting Wall Street scandals pull you into the fray—think Socratic debates in historic brick buildings rather than anonymous halls. The university shines in psychology experiments where undergrads co-author papers, the pioneering business program blending ethics with entrepreneurship (many grads launch startups), and interdisciplinary tracks like environmental studies tying into Kentucky's ecosystems. Research abounds early: you'll join faculty on grants studying Appalachian biodiversity or AI ethics, far more hands-on than at larger schools with 90%+ acceptance rates. The intellectual culture rewards bold thinkers, but tradeoffs include fewer PhD-level resources—no massive labs or endless electives—and a 69% six-year graduation rate signaling that self-starters fare best amid the cozy intensity.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
1,006 undergrad • 0 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
White
79%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
5%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
8%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Lexington, KY
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus life at Transylvania pulses with a familial vibe: a typical week kicks off with Monday's club fair (over 100 groups for 1,000 students, from quidditch to beekeeping), flows into Thursday trivia nights at campus coffee spots, and peaks with Friday tailgates before Pioneer football games. Traditions like the quirky Homecoming "Old South" parade (now reimagined sans stereotypes) and the annual "Pioneer Passion" philanthropy week foster school spirit, while 90% of students live on campus in cozy residence halls with themes like "Wellness House" or "Global Village." Greek life claims half the undergrads, fueling mixers and service projects, but the social scene stays low-key—think bonfires and barn dances over frat ragers. Positives abound in the tight bonds and safety (you'll walk anywhere at night), but challenges include limited diversity (mostly white, Midwestern/Southern draw) and Lexington's party pull from nearby UK, tempting some to wander; winters drag with gray skies, pushing you indoors to game nights.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
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
$16,194
$30K – $48K
$20,130
$48K – $75K
$22,768
$75K – $110K
$25,594
$110K+
$30,803
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
87%
4 Years Graduation Rate
73%
6 Years Graduation Rate
76%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$54,705
87% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Transylvania University and return in the fall. 73% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 76% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
73%
4-6 years
3%
Non-grad
24%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$41,900
Acceptance
87%
Undergrads
1,006
4-Year Grad Rate
73%
Endowment
$262M
Lexington, KY 40508-1797
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