Transylvania University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Lexington, Kentucky. It enrolls 1,005 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes78
Value42
Affordability37
Selectivity53
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.6%, Transylvania University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1120 – 1380
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Transylvania University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
4.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Transylvania University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,913 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,913
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
47%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$46,870
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,697
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,697
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,665
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,665
Total Cost of Attendance
$60,993
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$14,551
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,555
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,272
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,155
Over $110,000
$29,312
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,62510%percentile
$9,12825%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,59075%percentile
$37,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,453
↓ $6,547
No Pell $19,659
↓ $7,341
Female students $21,750
↓ $5,250
Male students $17,500
↓ $9,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at Transylvania University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Transylvania University earn a median of $54,705 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,705
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Transylvania University is home to 1,005 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,005
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 80.4%808
Other 6.1%61
Hispanic 5.1%51
Black 5.1%51
Asian 2.2%22
International 0.5%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Transylvania University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityLexington, Kentucky
Housing
Mostly residential653 beds on campus
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Transylvania University offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Transylvania University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$304M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$92,193
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
82 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
35
43%
$106,031
Associate Professors
31
38%
$89,603
Assistant Professors
11
13%
$67,669
Instructors
5
6%
$65,344
Pros & Cons of Transylvania University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Transylvania University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Transylvania University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Transylvania University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Transylvania University.
Is Transylvania University hard to get into?
Transylvania University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Transylvania University?
Transylvania University has an acceptance rate of 86.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Transylvania University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Transylvania University scored between 1120 and 1380 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Transylvania University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Transylvania University scored between 24 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Transylvania University cost?
The average net price after aid at Transylvania University is $21,913 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Transylvania University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,705 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,913 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Transylvania University known for?
Transylvania University is best known for its programs in Biology, Psychology, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Transylvania University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Transylvania University are $54,705, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Transylvania University accredited?
Yes. Transylvania University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Transylvania University?
Transylvania University enrolls 1,005 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Transylvania University?
Transylvania University graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Transylvania University a public or private college?
Transylvania University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Transylvania University located?
Transylvania University is located in Lexington, Kentucky.
What programs does Transylvania University offer?
Transylvania University offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Psychology, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Transylvania University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Transylvania University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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