The University of the South, also known as Sewanee, has been ranked second in the Princeton Review's category for most beautiful college campus.
Sewanee is known for its natural beauty and Gothic Revival architecture. Many of its academic buildings and dorms, along with the iconic All Saints' Chapel, are constructed with sandstone, and are often made grander (and moodier) when thick "Sewanee Fog" rises around them.
The Tennessee school has a massive 13,000-acre campus known as The Domain, situated on the southern end of the Cumberland Plateau. It features lakes, waterfalls and unique rock formations, plus plenty of wildlife and stunning foliage. Wildflowers bloom in the spring, and in the fall, the trees become a tapestry of reds, oranges and yellows.
Numerous hiking trails run through it all that allow students and visitors to take in the beauty.
It's no surprise, then, that Sewanee placed first in a new Princeton Review category called "Great Outdoors: Students Get Outside."
The school's majors include natural resources, forestry, geology and environmental sustainability, and it's very much the norm for students to take time to explore between classes, whether that's going caving or taking a hike.
Where is The University of the South?
The University of the South is a liberal arts college with over 1,700 undergraduate students and over 35 majors, according to its website.
The University of the South is 93 miles southeast of Nashville and 52 miles northwest of Chattanooga. From Knoxville, the school is about 164 miles, or a little over a two-and-a-half-hour drive.
What is the Princeton Review?
The Princeton Review shares annual college rankings online and in its print edition. Rankings are based on student surveys and include categories such as "Best Campus Food," "Happiest Students" and "Great Financial Aid."
The results come from 172,000 students who weigh in with thoughts about their schools. Sewanee was beat out for most beautiful campus by the University of San Diego in the latest rankings, which were released Aug. 18, 2026.
Hayden Dunbar Evans is the storyteller reporter. Email: hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com. Instagram: @knoxstoryteller.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: This Tennessee university rated #1 in the US for students who go outdoors
