UT Chattanooga: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Tennessee at Chattanooga · Chattanooga, Tennessee · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Tests required
- 12,313
- Applicants
- 8,819
- Admitted72%
- 2,378
- Enrolled
- 27%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective72% admittedRanked #35 (tie) in Regional Universities South; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #192 (tie), Business Programs #149 (tie), Computer Science #276 (tie), Nursing #135 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (see the source), read on 2026-09-24.
Is UT Chattanooga a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UT Chattanooga against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UT Chattanooga is a public university in Chattanooga, Tennessee that admits about 72% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $14,265 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 56% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UT Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, UT Chattanooga admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 72%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1080 and an ACT composite around 23. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,265 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for UT Chattanooga?
67% of enrolled students at UT Chattanooga had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.62, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does UT Chattanooga weight in admissions?
UT Chattanooga reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Standardized test scores
Important
1- Character/personal qualities
Considered
7- Class rank
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Interview
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UT Chattanooga typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 500–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 580. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–26. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 983 |
| 50th percentile | 1080 |
| 75th percentile | 1150 |
| % submitting SAT | 6.9% |
| 25th percentile | 20 |
| 50th percentile | 22 |
| 75th percentile | 25 |
| % submitting ACT | 93.3% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • All first-time freshmen must submit ACT/SAT; admission by GPA + score combos (e.g. 2.85 GPA + ACT 18) or 3.2 GPA/top 10%.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UT Chattanooga's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UT Chattanooga actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,448 for in-state students and $18,512 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,604 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,265 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 33% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,265 |
| Average merit award, no financial need457 first-year students received one | $3,806 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 47% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $27,845 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $30 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UT Chattanooga
| Regular deadline | 5/1 |
| Reply deadline | No set date |
Will my child graduate from UT Chattanooga?
These predict outcomes at UT Chattanooga better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UT Chattanooga
The most popular undergraduate programs at UT Chattanooga, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, UT Chattanooga confers roughly 1,171 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness program report a median income of about $51,418 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 212 | $51,418 |
| Psychology, General | 188 | $43,791 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 186 | $59,487 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 146 | $43,652 |
| Biology, General | 121 | $52,212 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 121 | $72,248 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 107 | $48,027 |
| Marketing | 90 | n/a |
Is UT Chattanooga safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UT Chattanooga disclosed 34 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 8 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UT Chattanooga?
About 35% of undergraduates at UT Chattanooga live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
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Next steps for UT Chattanooga
Common questions parents ask about UT Chattanooga
What GPA do I need for UT Chattanooga?
67% of enrolled students at UT Chattanooga had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.62, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UT Chattanooga typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 500–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 580. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 20–26.
How much does UT Chattanooga actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UT Chattanooga after grants and scholarships is $14,265 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $10,448 and $18,512 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UT Chattanooga realistic for my child?
UT Chattanooga admits 72% of applicants, so 500–590 SAT Math is target range and below 500 is a reach. Then check the $14,265 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UT Chattanooga?
UT Chattanooga accepts about 72% of applicants out of roughly 12,313 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is UT Chattanooga test-optional?
No. UT Chattanooga requires SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2027 applicants.
What is the graduation rate at UT Chattanooga?
About 56% of students at UT Chattanooga graduate within six years, and 40% finish in four years. 73% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UT Chattanooga look for in applicants?
UT Chattanooga rates course rigor, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UT Chattanooga a public or private school, and where is it located?
UT Chattanooga is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What are the most popular majors at UT Chattanooga?
The largest undergraduate majors at UT Chattanooga by annual graduates are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 1,171 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UT Chattanooga safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UT Chattanooga reported 34 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UT Chattanooga?
At UT Chattanooga, 35% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers