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Knoxville , TN
The University of Tennessee, commonly referred to as UT, is a public research university located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Established in 1794, UT is the flagship institution of the statewide University of Tennessee system, serving over 28,000 undergraduate and 9,000 graduate students. The university offers a wide range of academic programs across eleven undergraduate colleges and eleven graduate and professional colleges, including arts and sciences, education, engineering, business administration, law, and veterinary medicine.
As one of the top-ranked public universities in the United States, UT is known for its excellent academic reputation. The university is particularly strong in fields such as engineering, business, agriculture, and law. UT is also recognized for its commitment to research, with over $250 million in annual research expenditures. It boasts numerous research centers and institutes focused on fields such as energy, cybersecurity, transportation, and materials science. Students at UT have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research projects and work alongside renowned faculty members.
Beyond academics, the University of Tennessee offers a vibrant and inclusive campus community. With over 400 student organizations, students can explore their interests and connect with like-minded peers. The university's athletic teams, known as the Tennessee Volunteers, are highly regarded, with the football team enjoying a loyal fan base. Additionally, UT is committed to service and community engagement, with various outreach programs that allow students to make a positive impact in the local community. Overall, the University of Tennessee offers an enriching and diverse college experience for its students.
The University of Tennessee is a public university located in Knoxville, TN and set in an urban environment. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 41%. The freshman retention rate at The University of Tennessee is 91.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 74%.
Here are some recent information on important things to consider about The University of Tennessee.
Quick Facts
30,564
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
74%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most essential data you need to know about admission policy and requirements at The University of Tennessee.
In 2025, the school accepted 24,863 new students.
Test Scores
24% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 81% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 14.37% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 64.16% between 1,200 and 1,399, 20% between 1,000 and 1,199, 1.28% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.18% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 36.88, 49.99 between 24-29, 12.62 in the range between 18-23, and 0.51 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 4.17. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for The University of Tennessee was 91.9%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions have.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 74%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at The University of Tennessee in 2025 was 38,728.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 37. There was a total of 30,564 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 278 international students. The school reported to have a total of 1,602 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 15,635 male and 18,392 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 1,157 Asian students and 1,150 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,043 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,609 identified with more than one race. There were also 393 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for The University of Tennessee is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $11,560, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $30,704. If you are an international student at The University of Tennessee, you should know that the 2025 tuition was $30,704, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $2,252 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $30,704 | $2,252 | $32,956 |
| In-State | $11,560 | $2,252 | $13,812 |
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The estimated price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,598.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At The University of Tennessee, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $13,594. If you only needed a dorm room, you had to pay $8,608 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $7,614.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 11,560 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,594 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,598 |
| Total Expense | $ 26,752 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial aid available to students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at The University of Tennessee, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 2,880 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,180.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
11,089 students acquired some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at The University of Tennessee is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 12,223. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $40,998,658, and state $82,858,628. The students of The University of Tennessee received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $142,765,919, and external in the amount of $8,054,237.
$6,419
Average Amount of Aid Received
Majors
Faculty
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at The University of Tennessee was 18:1. That means that there were 18 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 2,355 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 1,215 male and 1,140 female faculty members. Its campus spans 920 acres.
Student Population Diversity Graph
FAQ
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The University of Tennessee is located in Knoxville, TN.
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The University of Tennessee offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for The University of Tennessee is 41%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for The University of Tennessee is 91.9%.
Contact Information
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
527 Andy Holt Tower
Knoxville , TN
37996
865 974-1000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
