The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Tennessee's land-grant flagship, pairing SEC football with research ties to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
- Acceptance rate
- 44%
- First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 40,421
- 32,041 undergraduates
- International
- 1%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 18:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $31,672
- 2026-27
About UT Knoxville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville was chartered as Blount College in 1794, two years before Tennessee became a state, and is now the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and the state's land-grant university. In fall 2025 it enrolled 40,421 students, 32,041 of them undergraduates, across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools, from the Haslam College of Business and Tickle College of Engineering to Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs.
UT is an R1 research university with an unusual asset next door: a long partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary lab. It set up the first university department of nuclear engineering in the US in 1957, and nuclear energy, materials and AI are major research themes. The university reports that 90% of alumni are working full time or in graduate school within six months of graduating.
Admission is competitive but formulaic enough to plan for: SAT or ACT scores are required, UT recalculates a weighted core GPA from 16 academic courses, and Tennessee residents with a 4.0 core GPA or a top-10% class rank plus a 24 ACT (1160 SAT), with ACT Math and English subscores of at least 19, are guaranteed admission if they apply early. It suits students who want a big-campus SEC experience, strong professional programs and a low in-state price.
Veritatem cognoscetis, et veritas vos liberabit
“You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” — university motto
Why students choose UT Knoxville
Tennessee residents who apply by November 1 with a 24+ ACT (1160+ SAT), 19+ ACT Math and English subscores, and either a 4.0 UT core GPA or a top-10% class rank are guaranteed admission.
Ties with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the nation's first university nuclear engineering department (1957) give science and engineering students research access few public universities can match.
Out-of-state students can earn Volunteer Scholarships of $3,000 to $18,000 a year, and international first-years are considered for awards of up to $18,000 a year.
Game days at Neyland Stadium, the painted Rock and more than 450 student organizations make it a classic big-campus SEC experience.
Admissions
First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
23,464 admitted from 53,841 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
7,143 first-years enrolled. 11,980 applicants were offered a waitlist place, 3,516 accepted it and 134 were admitted from it. Some programs (architecture, music, nursing, engineering) have their own additional criteria.
Typical entry requirements
| U.S. high school core courses | 16 core units strongly encouraged: 4 English, 4 math, 3 science, 1 American history, 1 European or world history or world geography, 2 of a single foreign language, 1 visual or performing arts |
|---|---|
| In-State Guaranteed Admission | Tennessee residents at Tennessee high schools applying Early Action: 24+ ACT (1160+ SAT) with ACT Math and English of 19+, plus a 4.0+ UT core GPA or top 10% class rank |
| Tickle College of Engineering | Success Prediction Indicator of at least 60 (ACT Math + 10 x core GPA) and ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590; others are reviewed holistically |
| International secondary school record | Official transcripts, diplomas or exam results sent directly from the school or exam board, with certified English translations |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before January 21, 2026) or 4 on the new scale; IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 110; PTE Academic 53; Cambridge C1 Advanced 180; or SAT Reading and Writing 540 / ACT English 21. Waived for citizens of listed English-speaking countries, IB or Cambridge students and graduates of US high schools. Conditional admission is possible if only English is missing. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Submit the application by November 1 and all materials (STARS and test scores) by November 15. Tennessee decisions early December; out-of-state and international decisions mid-December. Required for In-State Guaranteed Admission and recommended for Nursing and Architecture.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 5, 2027
Materials deadline January 20, 2027; decisions released early March. Also the date to apply by for institutional scholarships such as the Volunteer Scholarship.
Dates are from UT's first-year and international deadline pages for summer/fall 2027 entry; the enrollment confirmation deadline is May 1, 2027. Spring entry has a December 15 deadline (October 1 for international applicants).
How to apply
Common App or UT's Go Vols application; one essay chosen from seven prompts; self-reported grades through STARS (the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System) with an unofficial transcript; self-reported SAT or ACT scores; $75 application fee (waivable for US applicants, not for international applicants). Audition or portfolio steps apply for music and architecture. No recommendation letters are required.
What admissions looks for
- Academic GPA, rigor of the high school record and SAT or ACT scores, all rated very important in UT's Common Data Set.
- The difficulty of senior-year coursework and the college or program you apply to.
- The application essay, also rated very important.
- Extracurricular or leadership activities, work and volunteer experience, awards and special talents.
- State residency is rated very important, which reflects UT's guaranteed-admission route for Tennesseans.
Tips for applying to UT Knoxville
- 1 Apply Early Action by November 1 and finish STARS and scores by November 15: it is the only route to guaranteed admission for Tennesseans and gives the earliest decisions.
- 2 Take the SAT or ACT as often as you like through December 2026; UT superscores and does not need the ACT Science section.
- 3 For engineering or computer science, work out your Success Prediction Indicator (ACT Math plus 10 times your core GPA): 60 or more with ACT Math 25 or SAT Math 590 meets the college's criteria.
- 4 Complete all 16 recommended core courses, including a year of arts and two years of one foreign language, since UT recalculates your GPA from them.
- 5 International applicants cannot get an application fee waiver, and should send English test results directly to UT (ACT code 4026, SAT code 1843).
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
UT says 94% of first-year students in 2025 received scholarships and grants, and nearly half of students graduate without debt. Tennesseans can combine the HOPE Scholarship with UT Promise, Flagship and Pledge awards that cover tuition and mandatory fees, and a Distinguished Tennessean Award goes to one student from each of the state's 95 counties. Out-of-state students are considered for Volunteer Scholarships of $3,000 to $18,000 a year, and international first-years for the International Volunteer Scholarship ($3,000 to $18,000) and the Global Ambassador Scholarship ($10,000 to $15,000).
- $36,994 / $57,448, including books, transportation and personal costs
- 2026-27 cost of attendance, on campus (in-state / out-of-state)
- 94%
- First-year students receiving scholarships and grants (2025)
- 86 students, averaging $9,570
- Nonresident (international) undergraduates receiving institutional aid (CDS 2025-26)
- $3,000 to $18,000 per year
- Out-of-State Volunteer Scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Nuclear Engineering
UT created the first university nuclear engineering department in the US in 1957, and its graduate program is ranked No. 3 in the nation (university research page).
Tickle College of Engineering
Admission uses a published Success Prediction Indicator, and students work alongside Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Volkswagen engineers at UT's Innovation Hub.
Haslam College of Business
UT's institutional research office names business, alongside nursing and engineering, as the programs the university is best known for.
Nursing (BSN)
Direct entry from high school for students who list Nursing as their first-choice major and meet the college's GPA and test criteria.
Turfgrass Science and Management
UT turfgrass experts, including students, developed the natural grass pitches for all 16 FIFA World Cup 26 host stadiums.
Anthropology and forensic science
UT runs the Anthropological Research Facility, the 'Body Farm' founded by William M. Bass in 1972.
Research
- A long partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary lab, and collaborations with 16 DOE national laboratories.
- A $20 million NSF grant to set up ATHENA, an AI-powered lab for automated materials discovery.
- UT leads a $25 million nuclear consortium of eight national labs and 15 universities, and ranks No. 7 nationally for US Department of Energy funding.
- The Volkswagen Innovation Hub, the first in North America, works on lighter vehicles, longer-lasting batteries and sustainable materials.
Schools & faculties
- Herbert College of Agriculture
- College of Architecture and Design
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Haslam College of Business
- College of Communication and Information
- College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
- College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies
- Tickle College of Engineering
- Winston College of Law
- Natalie L. Haslam College of Music
- College of Nursing
- Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
UT reports that 90% of alumni are employed full time or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. College Scorecard: median earnings of $60,249 ten years after entry (and $47,782 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
UT is a large, spirited SEC campus built around The Hill, crowned by the clock tower of Ayres Hall. About 90% of first-years live in university housing, and there are more than 450 student organizations, Greek life and living-learning communities. Football Saturdays at Neyland Stadium are the social centre of the fall, with the Pride of the Southland Band's March to the Stadium and the Rocky Top Rowdies student section. Students also paint messages on the Rock, a campus boulder that has become UT's public noticeboard.
- The Tennessee Volunteers compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and have won 24 team national championships.
- The Rock, a boulder unearthed in the 1960s, is repainted by students almost daily.
- More than 450 student-led clubs and organizations, plus 500+ study abroad programs.
- Smokey, a bluetick coonhound, is the university's mascot.
Housing. About 90% of first-year students lived in university housing in fall 2025, choosing rooms through the University Housing Portal, with living-learning communities available.
Location
Knoxville is a mid-sized city in East Tennessee, and the campus sits beside downtown and the Fort Sanders neighbourhood. The Great Smoky Mountains are close enough for UT students to do field research there, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 complex anchor a regional 'Energy Innovation Corridor' of more than 150 energy and nuclear companies that offers internships and jobs.
Nearest airport: McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Notable alumni
- JM James M. BuchananEconomist and 1986 Nobel Memorial Prize laureate; MS from UT in 1941
- HB Howard BakerUS Senate Majority Leader and White House Chief of Staff; UT College of Law graduate (1949)
- MK Min KaoCo-founder of Garmin; MS (1974) and PhD (1977) in electrical engineering
- CH Chad HollidayFormer chairman of DuPont, Bank of America and Royal Dutch Shell; BS in industrial engineering (1970)
- CM Cormac McCarthyNovelist (The Road, No Country for Old Men); studied liberal arts at UT but did not graduate
- PM Peyton ManningNFL quarterback; BA in speech communication, completed in three years
- CP Candace ParkerBasketball player; led the Lady Vols to national titles in 2007 and 2008, then won WNBA championships with three teams
- HH Huell HowserTelevision host (California's Gold); studied history and political science and was student body president
Frequently asked questions
What is UT Knoxville's acceptance rate?
For fall 2025, UT admitted 23,464 of 53,841 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 43.6%.
Does UT Knoxville require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. All first-year applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores for fall 2027; UT superscores and does not require the ACT Science section. International applicants need scores for architecture, nursing, music and engineering.
What SAT or ACT score do you need for UT Knoxville?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years in fall 2025 scored 1280-1380 on the SAT or 26-31 on the ACT. Tennesseans with a 24 ACT (1160 SAT), including 19+ ACT Math and English subscores, plus a 4.0 core GPA or top-10% rank are guaranteed admission through Early Action.
When is the UT Knoxville Early Action deadline?
Submit by November 1, 2026 and send all materials by November 15, 2026. Regular Decision closes January 5, 2027, with materials due January 20.
How much does UT Knoxville cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, out-of-state tuition is $31,672 plus $2,806 in fees, and the full estimated cost of attendance with on-campus housing is $57,448. Volunteer Scholarships of $3,000 to $18,000 a year are available.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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