Knoxville, Tennessee Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee: median public in-state tuition $16,174 (+193.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $50,422 (-7.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 89.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $18,668 (+40.7% vs U.S.) 47,906 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 8 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 47,906 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $16,174 (+193.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $50,422 (-7.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 89.4% (+1.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $18,976 (+90.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $18,668 (+40.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 56.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 80.7%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Knoxville serve students across Tennessee with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 8 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 47,906 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $16,174. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Knoxville, Tennessee and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Knoxville vs Tennessee & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, Tennessee | $16,174 | $18,976 | $18,668 | 56.8% | 47,906 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $4,998 | $7,802 | $15,784 | 50.0% | 245,221 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Knoxville, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, Tennessee | $50,422 | 89.4% | 80.7% | 4.2% | — | 76.2% | 0.43 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $48,480 | 90.5% | 74.9% | 6.3% | — | 71.2% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Tennessee (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, Tennessee | $16,174 | $18,976 | $18,668 | 56.8% | 47,906 | $50,422 | 89.4% |
| Nashville | $17,048 | $22,290 | $18,668 | 41.8% | 39,095 | $47,416 | 88.0% |
| Memphis | $13,796 | $14,315 | $12,886 | 50.9% | 25,565 | $61,898 | 90.0% |
| Chattanooga | $10,448 | $14,265 | $13,168 | 50.2% | 20,266 | $51,151 | 91.9% |
| Murfreesboro | $10,266 | $13,359 | $13,958 | 53.7% | 17,211 | $48,541 | 89.5% |
| Johnson City | $10,472 | $15,983 | $9,500 | 53.2% | 10,191 | $44,859 | 88.7% |
| Cookeville | $13,248 | $16,597 | $13,000 | 57.7% | 9,352 | $48,501 | 92.0% |
| Clarksville | $9,006 | $9,989 | $20,547 | 40.2% | 7,722 | $44,301 | 85.7% |
| Gallatin | $13,078 | $16,532 | $13,525 | 53.4% | 5,565 | $42,198 | 91.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 73.9%, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 56.8%, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.2%, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 86.6%, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 most selective colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 41.6%, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 65.1%, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,302, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $33,627, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $107,093, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $39,600, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,782, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,649, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,188, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,472, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,249, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,596, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $175,542, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $78,996, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $18,976, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, Net Price, $22,063, Johnson University
Johnson University
Top 2 colleges in Knoxville, Tennessee by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 91.9%, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 69.4%, Johnson University
Johnson University
In-state tuition: Knoxville, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Knoxville, Tennessee median in-state tuition is $16,174, +193.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Knoxville, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Knoxville, Tennessee is $18,668 (+40.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Knoxville, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Knoxville, Tennessee center around $50,422 (-7.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Knoxville, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 89.4% at the median Knoxville, Tennessee campus (+1.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Knoxville, Tennessee median public in-state tuition is $16,174, about +193.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +224.0%.
Median graduate debt is $18,668 (+40.7% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Knoxville, Tennessee are $50,422, about -7.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 89.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+1.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 80.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 76.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (92.2%), Johnson University (86.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Knoxville, Tennessee is 56.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Knoxville?
This city profile covers 8 campuses in Knoxville, Tennessee with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Knoxville?
Median in-state tuition in Knoxville is $16,174 and median net price is $18,976. For Tennessee overall, medians are $4,998 and $7,802; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Knoxville?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Knoxville is $50,422 vs $48,480 for Tennessee and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Knoxville colleges?
Median completer debt in Knoxville is $18,668 vs $15,784 for Tennessee and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Knoxville?
Top campuses on this page include The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (graduation) and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Knoxville?
Among 8 campuses in Knoxville, Tennessee, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (1).
Sources & related
- Tennessee college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON