10-yr median earnings
$60,249
Federal aid recipients only
Public · Knoxville, Tennessee
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution in Knoxville, Tennessee. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.
- $18,976
- Avg net price / yr
- $60,249
- 10-yr median earnings
- 73.7%
- 150%-time completion
- 41.6%
- Acceptance rate
The verdict
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with a selective admit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- Top 15%
- former-student earnings, US
- 41.6%
- acceptance rate
- 73.7%
- 150%-time completion
- +26%
- earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Midsize
Carnegie: R1
Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.
How to read this The University of Tennessee-Knoxville profile
Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.
Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.
Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.
College Value Score
B-
College Value Score
66/100
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.
Earnings A-
$60,249
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price D
$18,976
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate B+
73.7%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$20,500
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment A-
76.5%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention A
91.9%
First-year students returning for year two
Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.
Avg net price
$18,976
After grants and scholarships
150%-time completion
73.7%
Full-time, first-time cohort
150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 73.7%
Four-year-institution cohort
College ROI Quadrant - The University of Tennessee-Knoxville vs peers
Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.
How The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranks nationally
Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville: former-student earnings vs. every US college
10-year median earnings, College Scorecard
$60,249 Top 15% higher than 85% of 5,103 US colleges
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals
| Metric | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | National rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $60,249 | #785 of 5103 | 85th |
| Average net price | $18,976 | #2880 of 5020 | 43rd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 73.7% | #1124 of 4858 | 77th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 30,418 | #63 of 5462 | 99th |
National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.
Quick Facts
30,418
Undergraduate enrollment
41.6%
Acceptance rate
1,311
SAT average
73.7%
150%-time completion
$60,249
10-yr median earnings
91.9%
First-year retention
How The University of Tennessee-Knoxville ranks in Tennessee
State rank among 120 reporting Tennessee colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.
| Metric | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | State rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-yr median earnings | $60,249 | #10 of 120 | 92nd |
| Average net price | $18,976 | #84 of 124 | 32nd (lower is better) |
| 150%-time completion | 73.7% | #26 of 117 | 78th |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 30,418 | #1 of 130 | 99th |
Highest former-student earnings in Tennessee
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | $91,565 | $15,846 |
| 2 | Baptist Health Sciences University | $72,529 | $11,212 |
| 3 | Rhodes College | $66,651 | $28,585 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | $66,318 | - |
| 5 | Jersey College - Cleveland | $66,087 | - |
| 6 | Jersey College - Knoxville | $66,087 | - |
| 7 | The University of the South | $64,911 | $27,872 |
| 8 | Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting | $62,978 | - |
| 9 | Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus | $61,480 | $27,267 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleThis school | $60,249 | $18,976 |
| 11 | King University | $59,831 | $22,347 |
| 12 | Cumberland University | $57,687 | $18,759 |
Admissions
| Admission Rate | 41.6% |
| SAT Average | 1,311 |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 600 – 690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600 – 680 |
| ACT Average | 28 |
| ACT (25th-75th) | 25 – 31 |
Costs & Financial Aid
Net price by family income at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket
- $0 – $30k $10,029
$0 – $30k
$10,029 net price / yr
- $30k – $48k
$30k – $48k
$12,162 net price / yr
- $48k – $75k
$48k – $75k
$18,206 net price / yr
- $110k+
$110k+
$25,688 net price / yr
What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.
Tuition & Net Price
| In-State Tuition | $13,812 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $33,256 |
| Average Net Price | $18,976 |
18.9%
Pell Grant Rate
28.9%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,500
Median Debt
$217/mo
Monthly Payment
Net price at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville swings rather than trends
Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $14,162 to $19,400 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as +27.9%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.
Lowest year
$14,162
Highest year
$19,400
Most recent (2023)
$18,109
11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
2013 · $14,1622023 · $18,109
Over the same years, enrollment went +37.3% (20,948 → 28,763 students).
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.
Student Demographics
Race & ethnicity
Student body at a glance
53.0%
Female
24.5%
First Generation
Outcomes
91.9%
Retention Rate
$47,782
Median Earnings (6yr)
70.1%
Earning Over $25K
76.5%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)
Outcomes & debt snapshot
| Measure | Cohort / horizon | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of normal time | First-time, full-time | 73.7% |
| First-year retention | First-time, full-time freshmen | 91.9% |
| Median earnings | 6 years after entry | $47,782 |
| Median earnings | 10 years after entry | $60,249 |
| Share earning over $25,000 | Working, not enrolled | 70.1% |
| Loan repayment rate | Completers, 3 years after leaving | 76.5% |
| Median federal student debt | At completion | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly payment | Standard 10-year plan | $217/mo |
Programs & Earnings
Field-of-study summary by credential
| Credential | Programs | Award count | Avg earnings | Top earnings | Avg debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 64 | 5,036 | $66,768 | $107,093 | $21,695 |
| Master's | 25 | 1,432 | $86,465 | $150,903 | $33,021 |
| Doctoral | 6 | 84 | $103,394 | $114,312 | $61,500 |
| First Professional | 2 | 203 | $113,493 | $123,713 | $112,477 |
| Graduate Certificate | 1 | 88 | - | - | $41,000 |
Top programs at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville by completer earnings
Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file
- Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering
$150,903 median earnings
- Computer Science
Computer Science
$135,764 median earnings
- Business Administration, M…
Business Administration, Management and Operations
$132,036 median earnings
- Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine
$123,713 median earnings
- Management Sciences and Qu…
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
$123,330 median earnings
- Registered Nursing, Nursin…
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$120,482 median earnings
- Chemistry
Chemistry
$114,312 median earnings
- Engineering, Other
Engineering, Other
$113,720 median earnings
What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.
| Program | Credential | Completers | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering | Master's | 32 | $150,903 | $31,248 |
| Computer Science | Master's | 28 | $135,764 | - |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's | 240 | $132,036 | $40,816 |
| Veterinary Medicine | First Professional | 83 | $123,713 | $163,453 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Master's | 126 | $123,330 | $31,504 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's | 15 | $120,482 | $61,500 |
| Chemistry | Doctoral | 21 | $114,312 | - |
| Engineering, Other | Doctoral | 19 | $113,720 | - |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's | 31 | $112,342 | - |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's | 105 | $112,249 | $20,500 |
| Psychology, General | Doctoral | 0 | $108,390 | - |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's | 43 | $107,093 | $21,500 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | 79 | $106,312 | $17,066 |
| Nuclear Engineering | Master's | 17 | $106,136 | - |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's | 19 | $105,834 | $26,000 |
Nearby Schools
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Explore Data-Matched Colleges
Matches use Scorecard measures among reporting colleges — not state-system recommendations or geographic proximity.
Similar Enrollment and Sector
Other Public institutions closest in reported enrollment, preferring the same Carnegie classification.
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
30,580 students · 162 apart
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA
30,594 students · 176 apart
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
30,197 students · 221 apart
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR
30,743 students · 325 apart
Similar Reported Net Price
Other Public institutions with the nearest reported average net price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville? ▼
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public institution in Knoxville, Tennessee. The acceptance rate is 41.6%. The average SAT score is 1,311. Undergraduate enrollment is 30,418 students.
How much do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville former students earn? ▼
Federally aided former students at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $60,249 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $47,782.
How much does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville cost? ▼
The average net price at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is $18,976. In-state tuition is $13,812 and out-of-state tuition is $33,256. Median student debt at graduation is $20,500.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville? ▼
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has a 73.7% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 91.9%.
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville worth the student debt? ▼
The median student debt at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is $20,500, while former students earn a median of $60,249 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 34% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 76.5% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $217.
Sources & methodology
Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.
Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education - former-student earnings, cost & completion (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics - enrollment, admissions, Carnegie class & demographics (nces.ed.gov/ipeds).
- U.S. Treasury / IRS earnings linkage - median earnings 6 & 10 years after enrollment for federal-aid recipients (irs.gov).
- College Scorecard, Field of Study - program-level (credential) earnings & debt (collegescorecard.ed.gov).
- Federal Student Aid (Title IV / NSLDS) - U.S. Department of Education - net price, student debt & aid-recipient repayment outcomes (studentaid.gov).
Where to go next from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- Compare The University of Tennessee-Knoxville against schools with similar outcomes at a lower average net price.Find similar schools that cost less
- Browse every reporting college in Tennessee side by side.Browse Tennessee
- See how fields of study differ on former-student earnings and debt.Explore programs
Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.