The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee · Public · 30,418 undergraduates · utk.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test required
Send an SAT or ACT score
Admit rate
44%
of 53,841 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1280 to 1380
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$37,980Est.Estimate
$58,830 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville uses a weighted or recalculated GPA, so its own calculation may differ slightly from yours.
Your admission chances
44% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
80% of freshmen had a weighted high school GPA of 4.0 or higher (average 4.25).
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$55,830
a year in 2027-28, from a $58,830 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1330
Send your score
This college requires an SAT or ACT score.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (4)
International Volunteer Scholarship
$3,000 a year
You meet 3.80+ GPA, 1300+ SAT or 28+ ACT. Also needs other requirements.
$2,000 a year
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
5 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test required
You must send an SAT or ACT score.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: First Year Test Score Policy - Undergraduate Admissions - University of Tennessee, Knoxville · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jan5Regular Decision · January 5, 2027The standard deadline.
- May15Other deadline · May 15, 2027
Who gets in
44%
of applicants were admitted: 23,464 of 53,841 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 12/15.
Wait list
11,980 students were offered a spot; 134 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 25% of them sent SAT scores and 80% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1280 to 1380
Reading and Writing 640 to 700
Math 630 to 700
ACT composite 26 to 31
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160020%
- 1200 to 139976%
- 1000 to 11993.8%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 4.25
- 4.080%
- 3.75 to 3.9912%
- 3.50 to 3.745%
- 3.25 to 3.492%
- 3.00 to 3.241%
- 2.50 to 2.990%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$37,980
a year, in state
$58,830
a year, out of state (tuition $32,750)
- Tuition (in state)$11,900
- Fees$2,540
- Food and housing$15,170
- Books and supplies$1,640
- Transportation and other$6,730
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville published $36,902 in state for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$9,626
- $30,001 to $48,000$11,690
- $48,001 to $75,000$17,499
- $75,001 to $110,000$22,708
- Over $110,000$26,651
Financial aid
59%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$15,874
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
53%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $6,872 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-26
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
International Volunteer Scholarship
$3,000 to $18,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 4.00+ GPA, 1490+ SAT or 34+ ACT, UT converted and weighted core GPA; international applicants$18,000
- 4.00+ GPA, 1360 to 1480 SAT or 30 to 33 ACT, UT converted and weighted core GPA; international applicants$9,000
- 3.80+ GPA, 1300+ SAT or 28+ ACT, UT converted and weighted core GPA; international applicants$3,000
Deadline: Apply by May 1; test scores by April 1. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the federal financial aid academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student every semester.
DetailsOut-of-State Volunteer Scholarship
$3,000 to $18,000 a year
Automatic · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 4.00+ GPA, 1490+ SAT or 34+ ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore$18,000
- 4.00+ GPA, 1360 to 1480 SAT or 30 to 33 ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore$9,000
- 3.80+ GPA, 1300+ SAT or 28+ ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore$3,000
Deadline: Apply by December 15 (page header; the page body says January 15 and the scholarship directory says January 5); test scores by May 15. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the federal financial aid academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student every semester.
DetailsIn-State Volunteer Scholarship
$3,000 to $9,000 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.80+ GPA, 1490+ SAT or 34+ ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore$9,000
- 3.80+ GPA, 1360 to 1480 SAT or 30 to 33 ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore$5,000
- 3.80+ GPA, 1300 to 1350 SAT or 28 to 29 ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore$3,000
Deadline: Apply by January 5; test scores received by May 15 (tests through December 2026). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the federal financial aid academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student every semester.
DetailsOrange & White Scholarship
$1,500 a year
Automatic · In-state students · No separate application
- 3.60 to 3.79 GPA, 1230+ SAT or 26+ ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore; must graduate from a Tennessee high school
- 3.80+ GPA, 1230 to 1290 SAT or 26 to 27 ACT, UT Weighted Core GPA; ACT/SAT composite superscore; must graduate from a Tennessee high school
Deadline: Apply by January 5; test scores received by May 15. To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the federal financial aid academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student every semester.
Details
Show 8 more scholarships
Global Ambassador Scholarship
$10,000 to $15,000 a year
Competitive · Out-of-state students · No separate application
- 3.00+ GPA, International students applying in final year of high school are automatically considered
Deadline: May 1.
DetailsManning Scholars (Chancellor's Scholarships)
$14,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 4.00+ GPA, 1390+ SAT or 31+ ACT, Minimum to be eligible; selection by UT General Scholarship Committee, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1 (early action) and answer the scholarship questions. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA.
DetailsNeyland Scholars (Chancellor's Scholarships)
$7,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 4.00+ GPA, 1390+ SAT or 31+ ACT, Minimum to be eligible; selection by UT General Scholarship Committee, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1 (early action) and answer the scholarship questions. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA.
DetailsBonham Scholars (Chancellor's Scholarships)
$5,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 4.00+ GPA, 1390+ SAT or 31+ ACT, Minimum to be eligible; selection by UT General Scholarship Committee, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1 (early action) and answer the scholarship questions. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA.
DetailsRoddy Scholars (Chancellor's Scholarships)
$5,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 4.00+ GPA, 1390+ SAT or 31+ ACT, Minimum to be eligible; selection by UT General Scholarship Committee, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1 (early action) and answer the scholarship questions. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA.
DetailsTennessee Scholars (Chancellor's Scholarships)
$5,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 4.00+ GPA, 1390+ SAT or 31+ ACT, Minimum to be eligible; selection by UT General Scholarship Committee, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply for admission by November 1 (early action) and answer the scholarship questions. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA.
DetailsDistinguished Tennessean Award
Competitive · In-state students · No separate application
Tuition and mandatory fees; one recipient from each of Tennessee's 95 counties; holistic
- 3.20+ GPA, Minimum UT core weighted GPA; holistic selection, one per county, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Apply by January 5 (November 1 priority). To keep it: a 3.0 college GPA, stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student.
DetailsProvost Scholarship
$2,000 a year
National Merit · No separate application
- National Merit or National Achievement finalist naming UT first choice
Deadline: Apply for admission by December 15; name UT first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.5 college GPA.
Details
Tennessee programs for residents
Ned McWherter Scholars Program
$6,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.75+ GPA, 1430+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Competitive merit award; application with transcript through first semester of senior year and official ACT/SAT; competitive, limited funding
Aspire Award
State program · In-state students
Up to $750/semester (4-year) or up to $250/semester (2-year) in addition to HOPE
- 3.00+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, Need-based HOPE supplement; meet HOPE requirements and parents' (or independent student's and spouse's) AGI of $36,000 or less
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS)
State program · In-state students
Up to $500/semester in addition to HOPE (including summer)
- 3.75+ GPA, 1330+ SAT or 29+ ACT, HOPE supplement (TN public or category 1-3 private HS graduates); must meet HOPE Scholarship requirements; FAFSA, from Tennessee
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
State program · In-state students
4-year (and 2-year with housing): up to $2,250/semester freshman & sophomore, up to $2,850/semester junior & senior; 2-year: up to $1,600/semester
- 3.00+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, HOPE Scholarship (entering freshmen); enroll within 16 months of HS graduation; FAFSA
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
40 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
15 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,190Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART LD |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART LD |
| African American Studies | 4 | AFST 201 or AFST 202 | |
| African American Studies | 5 | AFST 201-202 | |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ARTH LD |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 101 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIOL 101-102 |
| Biology | 5 | 11 | BIOL 101-102 and BIOL 160 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 | MATH 125 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 141 |
| Calculus AB | 5 | 4 | MATH 147 (honors) |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 141 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 141-142 |
| Calculus BC | 5 | 8 | MATH 147-148 (honors) |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 122-123 & CHEM 132-133 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | CHIN 131-132 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 102 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | COSC 101 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | COSC 100 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART LD |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 101 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | EEPS103 (4) or EEPS 201 (3) |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | EEPS 103 (4) or EEPS 201-202 (6) |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIEU 242 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FREN 211-212 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FREN 212 and FREN 333 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GERM 211-212 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | GERM 311-312 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEOG 121 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | JAPA 251-252 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | JAPA 351-352 |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | CLAS 251-252 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 213 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 211 |
| Music Aural Subscore | 4 | 1 | MUTH 130 |
| Music Aural Subscore | 5 | 2 | MUTH 130 and MUTH 140 |
| Music Non-Aural Subscore | 4 | 3 | MUTH 110 |
| Music Non-Aural Subscore | 5 | 6 | MUTH 110 and MUTH 120 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 221 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 222 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 3 | PHYS 102 (3) or PHYS 222 (4) or PHYS 231 (3) |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 5 | 4 | PHYS 136 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 3 | PHYS 101 (3) or PHYS 161 (3) or PHYS 221 (4) |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 5 | 4 | PHYS 135 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 4 | MATH 130 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 110 |
| Research | 4 | 3 | ENGL 102 |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | ENGL 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 211-212 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 212 and SPAN 311 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 211-212 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 6 | SPAN 212 and SPAN 311 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 201 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 101 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIUS 221-222 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIST 262 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
74%
Come back for a second year
92%
Typical earnings
$65,090
a year, 10 years after starting here
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$85,722
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 60 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The The University of Tennessee-Knoxville logo is a trademark of the college.