University of Tennessee acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Public · Knoxville, TN · 28,883 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
University of Tennessee admitted 46.0% of applicants for fall 2023, down from 72.5% in 2013. Tennessee residents pay $13,812 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $33,256.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 72.5% | 14,396 | 10,435 |
| 2014 | 74.8% | 15,442 | 11,555 |
| 2015 | 76.3% | 17,081 | 13,032 |
| 2016 | 77.2% | 17,583 | 13,578 |
| 2017 | 77.0% | 18,872 | 14,526 |
| 2018 | 77.8% | 20,457 | 15,912 |
| 2019 | 78.8% | 21,764 | 17,160 |
| 2020 | 78.1% | 25,423 | 19,867 |
| 2021 | 74.9% | 29,909 | 22,413 |
| 2022 | 68.4% | 36,290 | 24,826 |
| 2023 | 46.0% | 50,488 | 23,221 |
Applications went from 14,396 in fall 2013 to 50,488 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $9,626 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,690 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,499 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,708 |
| Over $110,000 | $26,651 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $13,812 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $33,256 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $35,064 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $18,314 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 28% submitted the SAT, 78% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| MTSU TN | 68.0% | $10,932 in-state |
| University of Memphis TN | 93.4% | $11,256 in-state |
| NC A&T NC | 46.2% | $6,813 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville took in 46.0% of its 50,488 applicants for fall 2023.1 In 2022 the rate was still 68.4%, and in 2013 it was 72.5%, which leaves a 26.5 percentage point drop over the decade.1 The rate fell in 5 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Applications grew 251% over the span, from 14,396 to 50,488, while admitted students grew 123%.1 Admitted students numbered 23,221 in 2023, down 6% from the previous fall.1
Test scores are required, and the middle 50% of ACT composites ran from 25 to 31 in 2023, with 78% of entrants submitting ACT results.1
Tennessee residents pay $13,812 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, and others pay $33,256.2 The in-state price is above the $10,963 median of the 10 public bachelor's colleges in Tennessee.2 In 2024-25, net price averaged $9,626 for families earning $0 to $30,000 and $26,651 for families earning over $110,000.2
Of 2019 entrants, 74% graduated within 6 years, compared with a 53% median across 43 bachelor's colleges in the state.2 Median earnings among Tennessee students were $65,090, measured 10 years after entry.2 Median federal debt for borrowers who graduated was $18,750.2 Fall 2023 entrants came back for the next fall at a rate of 92%.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 50,488 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 23,221 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 6,694 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 28,883 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test required | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 590 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 25 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 31 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 28% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 78% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $13,812 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $33,256 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $35,064 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $18,314 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $9,626 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,690 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,499 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,708 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $26,651 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 74% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 92% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 22% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $65,090 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $18,750 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Tennessee (N = 10) | $10,963 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Tennessee (N = 43) | 53% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with University of Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page