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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.
Located in Knoxville, TN and set in an urban environment, The University of Tennessee is a public university. This institution follows 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%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about The University of Tennessee.
Quick Facts
30,564
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
18:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
74%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. Learn some vital facts about admission at The University of Tennessee.
In 2025, the school accepted 24,863 new students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 24% and ACT scores 81%. 14.37% of the new 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% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of 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
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school 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 achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 74%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a clearer picture of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at The University of Tennessee in 2025 was 38,728.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 37% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 30,564, 278 of which were 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.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body 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. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at The University of Tennessee.
This school had 1,157 Asian students and 1,150 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,043 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 1,609 as multirace. There were also 393 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at The University of Tennessee? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition fees for area resident were $11,560, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $30,704 for students coming from a different state. Tuition costs at The University of Tennessee for international students amounted to $30,704. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $2,252.
| 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 financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,598.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at The University of Tennessee was $13,594 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school came to $8,608, according to the data from 2025. 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
Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at The University of Tennessee.
According to the most recent data, 2,880 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $14,180.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
11,089 students were awarded 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 total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 12,223. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $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
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at The University of Tennessee was 18:1: that means 18 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 2,355 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 1,215 men and 1,140 women. 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 data indicate that the freshman retention rate for The University of Tennessee is 91.9%.
Contact Information
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.
