University of Tennessee acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Tennessee is a public university in Tennessee that admits roughly 42% of applicants, which puts it in the selective range. A rate like this means it admits a minority of applicants; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Tennessee weighs, where it ranks among Tennessee schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1330, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
University of Tennessee application deadlines, 2026-27
What do students study at University of Tennessee?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Tennessee?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Tennessee, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Tennessee?
At University of Tennessee, your real chance depends on far more than the published 42% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Tennessee in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Tennessee hard to get into?
University of Tennessee is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 42% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Tennessee?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Tennessee, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. University of Tennessee reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Tennessee by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Tennessee for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Tennessee with a 3.5 GPA and a 1290 SAT?
About 62% (Likely), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1290 SAT, the middle of University of Tennessee's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.8 GPA with a 1370 SAT comes out near 80%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-tennessee.
How to get into University of Tennessee
Built from University of Tennessee's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Tennessee comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Tennessee carries about a 3.54 core GPA and a 1320 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1200 to 1370 SAT (25 to 31 ACT). Scores are required, so schedule a retake if you are below the midpoint.
University of Tennessee rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Tennessee's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.utk.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Tennessee, and how many get in?
50,488 students applied to University of Tennessee for fall 2023; 23,221 were admitted (46%). 6,694 enrolled. Only about 29% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Tennessee enrolls about 30,418 undergraduates in total, 53% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Tennessee?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Tennessee scored between 1200 and 1370 on the SAT (average 1311). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 25 to 31. A score above 1370 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1200 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Tennessee requires test scores, so plan a test date that leaves time for one retake.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Tennessee looks for
What University of Tennessee weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Tennessee signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Tennessee's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Tennessee
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Tennessee cost after financial aid?
University of Tennessee's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $33,678 per year. Tuition and fees are $13,812 for TN residents and $33,256 for out-of-state students, a $19,444 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,976 a year, and it ranges from $10,029 for families earning under $30,000 to $25,688 for families earning over $110,000. 19% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Tennessee graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Tennessee student who received federal aid earns $60,249 a year, up from $47,782 at six years. 74% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 92% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $20,500; 29% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Tennessee compares in Tennessee
University of Tennessee ranks #3 most selective of 33 schools in Tennessee in our database.
Among the 33 Tennessee schools we track, University of Tennessee ranks #3 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Vanderbilt University (6%) and Fisk University (37%) sit nearby, which makes Tennessee a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Tennessee
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Tennessee is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: NC State University, UC Davis, and University of Illinois. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
More data for Tennessee: Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Tennessee · Public Universities in Tennessee, Ranked by Acceptance Rate
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Tennessee's acceptance rate?
University of Tennessee admitted 23,221 of 50,488 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 46% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 29% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Tennessee?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1200 to 1370 on the SAT and 25 to 31 on the ACT. A score above 1370 is in the top quarter of admits.
Is University of Tennessee test-optional?
No. University of Tennessee reports that test scores are required for admission.
How much does University of Tennessee cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Tennessee, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $18,976 a year against a sticker price of about $33,678. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,029 on average.
What do University of Tennessee graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Tennessee are $60,249 a year among students who received federal aid, and 74% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Tennessee value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Tennessee weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Tennessee favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Tennessee generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Tennessee?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Tennessee specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Tennessee?
As a public university, University of Tennessee typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.