Peter's Hidden Gem Series #6: Transylvania University (KY)
- vpeterpitts
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
FACTS ABOUT TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY
Transylvania University is a liberal arts college located in Lexington, Kentucky. They operate on a 4-4-1 academic calendar. From mid-April through mid-May, they have a May term during which many students study off campus in other countries, are on tour with music groups, study in other parts of the United State, or participate in on-campus extended research. May Terms at colleges are rare (only a couple dozen in the U.S.).
This university has a student body of 996 full-time undergraduate students. 765 of these students live on their campus. It is less than a ten-minute walk from their campus to the heart of the city.
Transylvania University offers 47 undergraduate majors and 42 minors covering diverse fields such as Business Administration, Biology, Psychology, Kinesiology / Exercise Science, Accounting, Theatre, Music, and Art. Many of their students propose a self-designed major that addresses an area of special interest that incorporates courses from two or more programs. Here are some of the majors their students have designed in the past few years:
American Political Culture
American Studies
Bioinformatics
Chemistry and Culture of Food
Environmental Studies
Gender Studies
Human Neurological Health
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Multicultural Studies
Nutrition and Sustainability
Social Change
Social Justice
Storytelling Studies
85% acceptance rate. They consider a wide range of students (B- to A+).
Tuition and Fees 50,640
Living Expenses, including food & housing 15,010
Total: $65,650
Other Estimated Expenses
Living Expenses, off campus food allowance 658
Books, Course Materials, Supplies & Equipment * 1,000
Transportation 1,000
Personal 1,600
Federal Student Loan Fee 66
Total: $4,324
Total 2026-27 cost of attendance: $69,974
However…
After merit scholarships, most families (even families that do not qualify for need-based assistance) pay less than $31K without loans. In fact, including students who receive need-based aid, the average amount that students pay is less than $26K.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS:
THE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
From their website: “The Transylvania Center for Entrepreneurship encourages entrepreneurial thinking and career development for students in any academic major by providing hands-on, real-life experiential learning opportunities.
“Students will be provided opportunities to pursue their passions, promote creativity and innovation, and be exposed to a vast range of entrepreneurial career paths. And if they are ready, we stand ready to help students officially launch new businesses or grow an existing business.
“The Center for Entrepreneurship’s vision is to be Kentucky’s leading destination for students interested in developing their entrepreneurial thinking and skills as part of Transylvania University’s outstanding liberal arts education.”
MAY TERM:
From their website: “Try something new
During the four-week May term, students concentrate on one class and often get their first taste of international study. Many May term courses are team-taught and are highly interdisciplinary.
“Studying in the classroom the enormous power of volcanic activity to alter the environment is one thing, but standing next to a 2,100-degree lava flow is another matter altogether. That’s just one experience on a recent May term course to Hawaii, where students learned about the geological and biological evolution of the islands.
“Another group studied Filipino history, culture, and current events before traveling to Mactan Island in the Philippines to complete service projects directed toward public health and economic concerns.
“Yet another class surveyed Chinese art and culture from the prehistoric to the Tang Dynasty period and then toured museums and archaeological sites in Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Yixing.
“We encourage all students to plan to travel during May Term at least once during their Transylvania career. Don’t miss out on this convenient opportunity to experience the world beyond our campus!”
NEUROSCIENCE:
From their website: “Neuroscience studied within the liberal arts context examines not only how brain function influences behavior, but how the environments in which organisms dwell influence the brain. We examine the brain as a constantly changing organ responsive to influences from genetic factors, personal environment and sociocultural environment.
“While many of the courses focus on the brain as a living system, the inclusion of computer science courses in the major enables students to explore models of artificial intelligence and to develop appreciation of the role of massive computational analysis in current brain imaging techniques. The upper-level core courses in the major invite students to integrate the biological, behavioral, computational and philosophical approaches to studying nervous system function.
Members of the neuroscience faculty maintain active research programs and welcome students as members of the research teams. Students also have the opportunity to develop and investigate research problems of their own, with neuroscience faculty members serving as mentors.”
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY:
From their website: ”Music technology is a growing academic field and one in which Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, is taking a leadership role with the development of the music technology major. There is an increasing demand in the world of academic and professional music for liberally educated people who are fine musicians and understand the art, language and science of digital music making. We are one of the few liberal arts colleges in the country to offer a bachelor of arts degree in music technology and have a full-time professor who is a specialist in this area.
“The curriculum prepares students for graduate study in music technology and career paths in such areas as studio engineering, software development, teaching and performing. Graduates who focus on the technical side of music in their careers will benefit from the general music requirements of the program, since accomplished musicians often make the best studio engineers.
“Transylvania music technology majors have the advantage of the university’s location in Lexington, a metropolitan city of nearly 300,000. Numerous television and radio stations, along with recording studios, offer opportunities for local internships. Transylvania students become highly skilled in modern recording, production and composition techniques. In addition, they learn to develop new and innovative tools and computer programs for musical and multimedia expression. Transylvania biennially hosts the international Studio 300 Digital Art and Music Festival, which regularly features students along with professionals from around the world. Transylvania is an exciting place to prepare for life as a 21st century musician.”
Website: https://www.transy.edu/
Link to their virtual tour information:
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