The University of Tennessee Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, enrolling about 30,418 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 41.60% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $60,249 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $13,812
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $18,976 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 41.60% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 30,418 97.1% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 73.92%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 24.5%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 1.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 6.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 83.4%
  • Average SAT Score: 1311
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,221
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 50,488
  • Room & Board: $13,356 annual estimate

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville: what the data shows

Common questions about The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is located in Knoxville, TN (ZIP 37996).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville public or private?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a Public institution.

How much does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville cost?

Published tuition: $13,812 in-state, $33,256 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $18,976.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$10,029
$30,001–$48,000$12,162
$48,001–$75,000$18,206
$75,001–$110,000$23,627
$110,001+$25,688

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $55,248.

How hard is it to get into The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

Admission rate: 41.60%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1311 and midpoint ACT 28.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

Total enrollment: 30,418 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 32,221 students.

Graduate enrollment: 8,164 students.

About 97% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

150%-time completion rate: 73.92%.

First-year retention: 91.9%.

What do graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn?

Median earnings: $47,782 six years after entry; $60,249 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $20,500.

18.89% of students receive Pell grants.

What is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 41.60%; completion rate 73.92%; median earnings $60,249 at 10 years; net price $18,976. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$13,812
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville was $13,812.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$18,976
2024 Value

In 2024 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $18,976.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$75,904 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$18,976 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$55,248 4-Year In-State Tuition

$133,024 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$13,356 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,598 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$28,766 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$115,064 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Financial Aid by Income Level

18.89% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

28.89% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$11,194$29,684$14,162
2014$11,876$30,326$15,949
2015$12,436$30,856$18,138
2016$12,724$31,144$19,076
2017$12,970$31,390$19,335
2018$13,006$31,426$19,142
2019$13,264$31,664$18,825
2020$13,264$31,664$18,579
2021$13,244$31,664$18,853
2022$13,244$31,664$19,400
2023$13,484$31,974$18,109

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

41.60% Acceptance Rate

50,488 Total Applicants

23,221 Students Admitted

6,694 First-Time Students Enrolled

28.83% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1311

ACT Average: 28

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7

Estimated Median GPA: 3.60

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville reported total enrollment of about 30,418 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (78.1%), Hispanic or Latino (6.7%), and Two or More Races (5.3%). About 18.89% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

97.1% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2024 is 30,418 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 32,221 students. Graduate enrollment is about 8,164 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

91.9%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 78.1%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

56.68% 100% Completion Time

73.92% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 56.68% of students graduating from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management: 69% male / 31% female
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 35% male / 65% female
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 18% male / 82% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Return on Investment

$20,500 Median Student Debt

$60,249 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

34.03% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

693.75% Return on Investment

3.4 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 144 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management: 399 completions

2. Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 397 completions

3. Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 393 completions

4. Social Work: 331 completions

5. Finance, General: 311 completions

6. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 273 completions

7. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 256 completions

8. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 250 completions

9. Management Science: 239 completions

Most popular programs at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 83.4%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $12,968
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $13,098

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, TN, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. Enrollment is approximately 30,418 students. Student body composition includes White (78.1%), Hispanic or Latino (6.7%), Two or More Races (5.3%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 41.60%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1311. The 150%-time completion rate is 73.92%. Approximately 18.89% of students receive Pell Grants. About 24.5% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Knoxville, TN 37996

Region: Southeast

Insights and Analysis

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 144 distinct degree programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville located?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is located in Knoxville, TN.

What is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is 41.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 50,488 applicants and 23,221 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville cost?

Reported tuition is $13,812 and average net price is $18,976 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,356 annually.

What is the student body demographics at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville reports undergraduate enrollment of about 32,221 students, White (78.1%), Hispanic or Latino (6.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

About 24.5% of students at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville reports midpoint SAT about 1311 and midpoint ACT about 28.

What do graduates of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn?

Median earnings are $47,782 six years after entry and $60,249 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

The 150%-time completion rate is 73.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,500.

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville public or private?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, TN.

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville an HBCU?

No. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville a tribal college?

No. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Knoxville, Tennessee city profile
  • Southeast regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Tennessee

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.