University of Tennessee-Knoxville: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Tennessee-Knoxville admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 44%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1330 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,976 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

80% of enrolled students at University of Tennessee-Knoxville had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.25, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does University of Tennessee-Knoxville weight in admissions?

University of Tennessee-Knoxville reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

How University of Tennessee-Knoxville reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores University of Tennessee-Knoxville typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does University of Tennessee-Knoxville actually cost?

Published tuition is $13,812 for in-state students and $33,256 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,356 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,976 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 19% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Will my child graduate from University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

These predict outcomes at University of Tennessee-Knoxville better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Tennessee-Knoxville, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Research and Experimental Psychology and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. Across all programs, University of Tennessee-Knoxville confers roughly 2,349 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $79,000 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is University of Tennessee-Knoxville safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Tennessee-Knoxville disclosed 85 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 15 violent offenses and 41 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

About 27% of undergraduates at University of Tennessee-Knoxville live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 19% of men join a fraternity and 36% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Tennessee parents ask about

• University of Memphis
  72% acceptance
• University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  81% acceptance
• Belmont University
  95% acceptance
• Rhodes College
  50% acceptance
• Lipscomb University
  68% acceptance
• Sewanee-The University of the South
  57% acceptance
• Vanderbilt University
  6% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• University of Washington-Seattle Campus
  39% acceptance · Washington

Common questions parents ask about University of Tennessee-Knoxville