Johnson University
Knoxville, TN 37998
About Johnson University
Johnson University is a private research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, enrolling about 743 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 65.11% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $40,596 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Johnson University charges 28% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($21,122).
- Versus the Tennessee median, sticker tuition is 40% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 56.77%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $40,596.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Johnson University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 360% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson University | $21,122 | $22,063 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $15,120 | $7,802 | 69 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Johnson University really?
Key findings
- Johnson University charges 28% below the national private non-profit median tuition ($21,122).
- Versus the Tennessee median, sticker tuition is 40% above.
Johnson University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $21,122
Finding Johnson University charges 28% below the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $21,122. That is 28% below the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Tennessee median ($15,120), sticker tuition is 40% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 1.8×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Johnson University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Johnson University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Johnson University is $22,063.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $22,063 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $14,261 above the Tennessee median net price.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Johnson University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Johnson University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Johnson University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$21,122
Avg. net price
$22,063
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,246 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $19,212 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $23,206 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,075 |
| $110,001+ | $24,860 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $84,488. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Johnson University is known for
Top program completions
- Bible/Biblical Studies152
- Divinity/Ministry53
- Applied and Professional Ethics29
- Business Administration and Management, General21
- Psychology, General20
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 55% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1078
- Midpoint ACT: 22
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Johnson University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Johnson University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Johnson University.
Campus
Location
Knoxville, TN
City / state
- ZIP
- 37998
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
743
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 856
- Graduate
- 232
- Full-time share
- 91%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 38.70%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Johnson University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Johnson University 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 Johnson University 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 | $10,800 | $10,800 | $13,351 |
| 2014 | $12,050 | $12,050 | $14,298 |
| 2015 | $12,650 | $12,650 | $15,200 |
| 2016 | $13,950 | $13,950 | $16,430 |
| 2017 | $14,920 | $14,920 | $15,663 |
| 2018 | $16,060 | $16,060 | $18,428 |
| 2019 | $16,920 | $16,920 | $18,915 |
| 2020 | $18,290 | $18,290 | $17,671 |
| 2021 | $19,274 | $19,274 | $19,934 |
| 2022 | $19,274 | $19,274 | $20,947 |
| 2023 | $20,318 | $20,318 | $20,303 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1078 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 22 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Johnson University reported total enrollment of about 743 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (71.3%), Non-Resident Alien (9.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (6.7%). About 38.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 25.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
91.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Johnson University in 2024 is 743 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 856 students. Graduate enrollment is about 232 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.4%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
42.86% 100% Completion Time
56.77% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 42.86% of students graduating from Johnson University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Bible/Biblical Studies: 45% male / 55% female
- Divinity/Ministry: 62% male / 38% female
- Applied and Professional Ethics: 41% male / 59% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Johnson University graduates earn a median of $40,596 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Johnson University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $40,596. Median federal loan debt: $21,500. Average net price used in cost models: $22,063.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Johnson University graduates report median earnings of $40,596 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Johnson University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (35 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Johnson University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Johnson University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Johnson University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$125.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Tennessee median 4.1× the median ($30.3M)
- Southeast median 6.4× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 4.7× the median ($26.4M)
- Tennessee median 8.4× the median ($17,566)
- Southeast median 16× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 12× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Tennessee median 35.6 pp above median (64.4%)
- Southeast median 40.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,075
- Tennessee median 0.87× the median ($7,010)
- Southeast median 0.89× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.80× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,567
- Tennessee median 1.5× the median ($6,831)
- Southeast median 1.6× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Johnson University at a glance
Johnson University
Johnson University is a private non-profit institution in Knoxville, TN, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Bible/Biblical StudiesDivinity/MinistryApplied and Professional Ethics
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian71.3%Non-Resident Alien9.0%Hispanic or Latino6.7%
Schools near Johnson University
Other campuses in Knoxville, TN when available, plus nearby institutions in Tennessee.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Tennessee, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Johnson University located?
Johnson University is located in Knoxville, TN.
What is Johnson University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Johnson University is 65.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 610 applicants and 328 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Johnson University's tuition?
Johnson University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $21,122 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $22,063 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Johnson University cost?
Reported tuition is $21,122 and average net price is $22,063 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,900 annually.
What explains Johnson University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($22,063), completion (56.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($40,596). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Johnson University?
Johnson University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 856 students, White (71.3%), Non-Resident Alien (9.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Johnson University?
About 25.5% of students at Johnson University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Johnson University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Johnson University reports midpoint SAT about 1078 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of Johnson University earn?
Median earnings are $35,649 six years after entry and $40,596 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Johnson University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 56.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Johnson University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,500.
Is Johnson University public or private?
Johnson University is a private nonprofit institution located in Knoxville, TN.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.