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Summary
University of Tennessee is a public institution that was founded in 1794. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,214, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 560 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Tennessee's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 101. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,396 (2011-12); out-of-state tuition and fees are $25,238 (2011-12).
The University of Tennessee is a public research institution in Knoxville, one of the state’s largest cities, and is the flagship campus for the state school. Close to 40 percent of students join a fraternity or sorority. The UT sports teams are known as the Vols and the Lady Vols, short for Volunteers. The teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, and football season is a particularly big draw at the school.
The university helps to manage the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where students and faculty tackle research projects. The University of Tennessee grants graduate degrees through its Graduate School of Business, law school, College of Engineering, and College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, as well as a Space Institute, among other academic departments. Graduates of the University of Tennessee include current and former NFL players Peyton Manning and Reggie White, respectively.
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The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is the flagship campus of the UT system and the state's top public research university. UT offers more than 110 degree and interdisciplinary programs from eleven colleges, including veterinary medicine and law. The campus is adjacent to the city's redeveloped downtown, which is full of art, history, theater, and other cultural venues. The 560-acre campus connects to miles of greenways and is just a short drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. UT has set its sights on becoming a Top 25 public research university in the next decade. This aggressive goal has brought a sharp focus on improving undergraduate education and support for student success, growing graduate education, strengthening research, and improving campus infrastructure and facilities. The university selects the nation's top students to enroll in the Haslam Honors Program, a premier community that provides a study-abroad opportunity and funding for a senior research thesis, among other perks. This is just one of several honors programs, in addition to seven learning communities designed to engage students in campus life and learning. The university's focus on international and intercultural awareness and civility enhances students' understanding of other cultures and provides experiences to help them succeed in a global economy. Along with broadening campus programming and curriculum, students benefit from new study abroad scholarships and opportunities. The university gets the Volunteer nickname honestly. Students are well known for their volunteer spirit, both on game day and in the community. UT community members serve others through alternative spring and fall break trips and throughout East Tennessee in areas of health care, animal welfare, hunger and homelessness, city beautification, youth outreach, and global issues, to name just a few. The campus places a high value on sustainability. Through a student-initiated "green fee" UT is one of the largest purchasers of green power in the Southeast. New buildings meet LEED certification standards, and community members focus on energy savings, recycling, alternative fuels, and other practices to reduce the campus's carbon footprint. The Student Success Center provides a wide range of services to help students overcome stumbling blocks and receive extra help and advice needed to navigate their academic careers. To make sure that money is not a barrier for the state's academically qualified students, UT has implemented three new, need-based scholarship programs. The university's partnership with Battelle to manage nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides undergraduate and graduate students a wide array of research opportunities and fuels the area's technology- and science-driven economy. The new Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education now offers one of the country's first interdisciplinary doctoral degrees in energy science and engineering. Students can chose from more than 400 clubs and organizations. Sorority Village, a new complex of chapter houses, and a new Student Recreational Fields complex open this fall. A new Student Health Building opened this year and provides students with comprehensive medical, counseling and wellness services. A new Student Union is now underway, which will double the size of the current facility. The project marks the largest single building project in UT's history and will provide more space for performances, student programming, dining facilities, and an expanded book and technology store. New academic facilities have recently opened including the Min K. Kao Electrical and Computer Engineering Building, the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, and the James A. Haslam Business Building. Over the next several years UT will add the John Tickle Engineering Building and the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center to the UT campus. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1794 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $674,434,331 |
Applying
When applying to University of Tennessee, it's important to note the application deadline is December 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due December 1. The application fee at University of Tennessee is $30. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 69.7 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 69.7% |
| Application deadline | December 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | December 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at University of Tennessee is 15:1, and the school has 33.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at University of Tennessee include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Psychology; Social Sciences; and Engineering. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 84.8 percent.
Student Life
University of Tennessee has a total undergraduate enrollment of 21,214, with a gender distribution of 51.3 percent male students and 48.7 percent female students. At this school, 35.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 65.0 percent of students live off campus. University of Tennessee is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at University of Tennessee.
| Total enrollment | 30,194 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
University of Tennessee offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Tennessee also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Tennessee, 60 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at University of Tennessee.
| Students who have cars on campus | 60% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At University of Tennessee, 62.9 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $3,233.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $8,396 (2011-12) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $25,238 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $8,480 (2011-12) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
