Rhodes College vs The University of the South: which has better ROI?
Rhodes College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,340 in 6.3 years versus 6.7 years at The University of the South, on median earnings of $66,651 vs $64,911 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rhodes College | The University of the South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,585 | $27,872 |
| Total net cost | $114,340 | $111,488 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,651 | $64,911 |
| Median debt | $21,761 | $22,855 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | 6.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $251,480 | $219,532 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rhodes College or The University of the South?
The University of the South, at $27,872 a year after aid versus $28,585 — a gap of $713 a year, or $2,852 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rhodes College or The University of the South graduates earn more?
Rhodes College graduates report a median $66,651 ten years after entry, $1,740 more than the $64,911 at The University of the South. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Rhodes College or The University of the South?
Rhodes College: its completers carry a median $21,761 in federal loans versus $22,855 at The University of the South, a difference of $1,094. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Rhodes College, against 80% at The University of the South. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.