University of Tennessee Tuition and Fees

By Kelly Boyer Sagert

(Last Updated – 02/2025)

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, also known as UT Knoxville, is the flagship campus of the five-campus University of Tennessee system. The public, four-year research institution is known for its supply chain and sciences programs and is home to the UT Space Institute and the UT Institute of Agriculture. Here’s an overview of University of Tennessee tuition costs for both in-state and out-of-state students, housing and other costs, as well as Tennessee’s acceptance rate.

Total Cost of Attendance

Financial Aid

Nearly every student at UT Knoxville (90%) uses one or more types of financial aid to help pay for the University of Tennessee’s costs. This may include scholarships, grants, and/or loans. For example, 17% of students have Pell Grants, a type of federal funding for undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education — Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) — A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: Tennessee Student Loan & Scholarships

Private Student Loans

At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 29% of students take out federal student loans and 7% take out private student loans. The average private student loan is $23,030.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

The University of Tennessee cost for four years, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other expenses, would be $134,712 for Tennessee residents (based on 2023-24 numbers). This is somewhat higher than the national average of $115,369 for in-state students at public universities.

For residents of other states, the total cost of UT Knoxville would be $208,672, which is more than the national average for out-of-state students at public universities of $186,920.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2023-24

The cost for University of Tennessee tuition and fees was $13,484 for in-state students and $31,974 for out-of-state students in 2023-24. Room and board was $12,500, books were $1,598, and additional expenses were $6,096. This came to a total cost of attendance of $33,678 for in-state students and $52,168 for out-of-state students.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

The average University of Tennessee tuition and fees for graduate school was $13,620 for in-state residents in 2023-24. This is much lower than the average annual graduate school tuition and fees in the U.S., which is $21,730. The total cost for out-of-state residents was higher than the national average at $32,108.

There are many options for graduate loans that can help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

The cost per credit hour for Tennessee residents is $502. Out-of-state residents will pay $1,317 per credit hour.

Campus Housing Expenses

At UT Knoxville, freshmen are required to live on campus. Students can choose from apartment-style housing, residence halls, and community-style halls. There are also Living and Learning Communities where students can live with others who share their same interests and fields of study. For upperclassmen, there are many off-campus housing options within walking distance of the university.

University of Tennessee Acceptance Rate

Admission Requirements

When applying to the University of Tennessee, here’s what you’ll need to submit with your application.

Required:

•  High school academic record

•  Standardized test scores

•  Essay

Optional:

•  Recommendation letters (academic, professional, or personal)

•  Supporting statement (might include academic achievements, community involvement, and other information about your experiences and background)

The UT Knoxville Early Action application deadline is November 1, and the Regular Admission deadline is December 16.

SAT and ACT Scores

Here are the standardized test scores of accepted students at UT Knoxville.

Popular Majors at the University of Tennessee

UT Knoxville offers numerous degree programs across ​​12 academic colleges and the Baker School of Public Policy. These are some of the most popular majors.

1. Supply Chain Management

The Supply Chain Management Bachelor of Science (BS) degree has several areas of focus to choose from, including Business Analytics, Health Integrated and Business Engineering, Information Management, or International Business.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 423

2. Psychology

Psychology students will learn research methods they can apply in hands-on lab work. They’ll take courses like Human Development, Cognitive Basis of Behavior, and Evolutionary Psychology and Ethology.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 332

3. Marketing

Depending on a student’s interest, a Marketing degree can focus on Business Analytics, Customer and Brand Strategy, Digital and Visual Marketing, Professional Sales, Health Integrated Business and Engineering, Information Management, International Business, or Supply Chain Management.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 295

4. Nursing

Students train for future placement as a licensed registered nurse. The school also offers an accelerated track for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for non-nurses who already have a college degree and want to pursue a career in nursing.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 239

5. Biological Science

In this program, Biological Science majors can opt for a concentration like Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Microbiology, or the Biology of Global Health.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 239

6. Finance

Students interested in pursuing a BS degree in Finance learn how to assess financial statements, construct investment portfolios, present financial data, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 237

7. Kinesiology

Kinesiology students learn about exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology, motor behavior, and physical activity epidemiology. Many choose to pursue a master’s degree. They typically go on to have careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, or athletic training, or as physician assistants.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 192

8. Business Statistics

Another top major at UT Knoxville is business statistics, which focuses on applied statistics. Students learn how to gather data about an organization’s performance, analyze it to offer business solutions, and make predictions about further growth.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 179

9. Mechanical Engineering

After getting a solid foundation in general science, Mechanical Engineering students learn about mechanical design, solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, vibrations, manufacturing processes, instrumentation, and automatic control.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 143

10. Political Science

Political Science students can opt for a concentration in International Affairs, Law and Courts, or Public Administration. Courses in this degree program include Introduction to Comparative Politics, Introduction to Political Philosophy, and Tennessee Government and Politics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 132

Graduation Rate

Here are the graduation rates at the University of Tennessee for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees who began in Fall 2017.

•  4 years: 56%

•  6 years: 73%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

UT Knoxville graduates earn a median annual salary of $60,249. This is higher than the median annual salary for all graduates of four-year colleges, which is $53,747.