About

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

public research universitytennessee volunteers communitystrong engineering programslarge campus experienceaccessible admissions

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public research university in Knoxville, TN, known for its public research university, tennessee volunteers community, and strong engineering programs. With an acceptance rate of 68%, The University of Tennessee is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 6,846 students each year. Admitted students typically score between 1280–1380 on the SAT and 26–31 on the ACT. The University of Tennessee meets 100% of demonstrated financial need and has replaced loans with grants; for families earning under $40,000, the net cost is often $0.

Admissions

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

68%
Overall Accept Rate
4.00
Typical Admitted GPA
1330
Median Admitted SAT
GPATypical admitted range: 4.00 – 4.00 unweighted

Build your free list to see where your GPA lands at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

SATSubmitted score range: 1280 – 1380

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

ACTScore range: 26 – 31

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
UTK's essays carry real weight in their review process, so use your personal statement to show a specific side of yourself that your transcript cannot capture. Admissions readers at Knoxville want to see genuine voice and concrete detail, not a resume in paragraph form.
Essay Strategy
When UTK asks why you chose your intended major or college, name specific faculty research, programs like the Tickle College of Engineering co-op track or the Haslam Business School experiential learning opportunities, and connect them directly to your own goals rather than speaking in general terms about the university.

Get a tailored strategy for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What The University of Tennessee-Knoxville actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Loan-free financial aid: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has replaced all loans with grants. For families earning under $40,000, the average net annual cost is $0. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's sticker price of ~$51k/year bears almost no resemblance to what most families pay.
Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30kOften $0~$51k/yr~$0 / yr
30k-48kOften $0~$51k/yr~$0 / yr
48k-75k~$51k/yr$18.2k
75k-110k~$51k/yr$23.6k
110k+~$51k/yr$25.7k

Not sure what The University of Tennessee-Knoxville would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

74%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$48k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
17:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
24,703
Undergrad Enrollment
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch