Transylvania University

Private · Moderately Selective · KY

Photo: Bartonlynch (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationKY · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,005

Student:faculty10:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate55.7%

6-yr grad rate71.5%

Drop-out rate12.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$47k

Out-of-state tuition$47k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity19.6%

Gender diversity57.2%

International0.5%

IdentityChristian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Overview

Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 1780, is the oldest college west of the Allegheny Mountains, with alumni rolls reaching back to founding-era statesmen, including a U.S. vice president and numerous early senators and governors. Today it is a small residential liberal arts college a few blocks from downtown Lexington, in the heart of Kentucky's horse country.

Academics

Pre-med, pre-law, and business preparation are the school's signature strengths, backed by a genuine liberal arts core and close faculty access typical of a school this size. Small classes give students direct mentorship toward professional school or first jobs, and the college's long history gives it real alumni depth in law, medicine, and Kentucky politics and business.

Campus & student life

The compact campus sits within walking distance of downtown Lexington's restaurants and social life, giving students an urban-adjacent experience without a large-university feel. Athletics compete at the NCAA Division III level, and most student organizations and social life happen on or immediately around campus.

Getting in

Transylvania's process is holistic, weighing essays and interviews alongside academic record, and the school has a history of awarding substantial merit scholarships to strong applicants, consistent with its role as a smaller alternative to bigger-name Kentucky schools for high achievers.

After graduation

The pre-med and pre-law tracks feed graduates into professional school with a strong track record, and the alumni network runs unusually deep in Kentucky's legal, medical, and business establishment given the school's age.

Worth knowing

Transylvania has long positioned itself as a merit-scholarship-friendly option for strong students who might otherwise default to larger flagship universities.

transy.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate86.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1120–1380 · ACT 24–30

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying