1. [College research](/) 2. / 3. [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/) 4. / 5. Admissions & selectivity Admissions & selectivity Copy linkPrint brief # The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Acceptance Rate & Admissions Updated October 1, 2026 [Overview](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/)[Cost & aid](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/outcomes/)Admissions[Majors](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/)[Similar schools](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/similar/) **On this page**+ ## What is the acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville? The University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s reported acceptance rate is 41.6%. **Acceptance rate · Fall 2024** 41.6% Source: College Scorecard · Fall 2024 admissions. Acceptance rates can change from year to year; this figure does not predict the current or next admission cycle. First-year applicants and admitted students · CDS 2025-26 **Applicants** 53,841 **Admitted** 23,464 Source: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Common Data Set 2025-26, C1 · first-time, first-year students. How to interpret the acceptance rate The University of Tennessee-Knoxville admits 41.6% of applicants, a rate well below the median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size). In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported 53,841 applicants, 23,464 admitted students, and 7,143 enrolled first-year students. ## What SAT and ACT scores do enrolled The University of Tennessee-Knoxville students report? In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported an SAT range of 1280 to 1380 among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores. Just 25% of the entering class submitted SATs, so the range reflects a limited share of the cohort. Among ACT submitters, who made up 80% of enrolled first-year students, the middle half landed between 26 and 31. These ranges capture where enrolled submitters scored, not the threshold for admission. Of enrolled first-year students who reported a class rank, 47% finished in the highest tenth of their high school class and 77% in the upper fourth. Applicants can weigh their own scores against the university's SAT and ACT ranges, remembering these describe enrolled students rather than a cutoff. The ranges below describe enrolled students who submitted test scores at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Use them as academic context, then check the university’s current testing policy for your application cycle. **25% of entering students submitted SAT scores** SAT: reported composite scores **25th percentile** 1280 **Median** 1330 **75th percentile** 1380 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. **80% of entering students submitted ACT scores** ACT: reported composite scores **25th percentile** 26 **Median** 29 **75th percentile** 31 CDS 2025-26 · enrolled first-year score submitters. This range is not an admission cutoff. Source: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Common Data Set 2025-26, C9 · Enrolled first-time, first-year score submitters. ## Who enrolls at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville? **Pell Grant recipients** 18.9% **Entering students outside the first-time, full-time group** 19.2% **First-year retention** 91.9% Retention source: College Scorecard; full-time first-year retention. About these student measures The entering-student group includes part-time entrants as well as other attendance patterns. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville enrolls 30,418 undergraduates, and its admission rate of 41.6% sits well below the peer median of 78.1% for comparable institutions (same type and size). Pell Grant recipients make up 18.9% of undergraduates, and an estimated 19.2% of students enter as transfers or part-time students. In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported 3,597 transfer applicants, 3,168 admitted transfer students, and 1,778 enrolled transfer students. These figures show a campus where a substantial share of students arrive after starting college elsewhere, alongside a traditional first-year class. Pell-eligible and transfer applicants should connect early with the university's advising and financial aid offices to learn what support resources are available. Students who enroll at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville complete at rates that sit above the medians for comparable institutions. The first-year retention rate is 91.9%, against a peer median of 83.1%. The [six-year graduation rate](/analysis/what-the-graduation-rate-doesnt-count/) for the first-time full-time cohort is 73.9%, above its peer median of 65.0%. In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported a retention rate of 92% for the first-time, full-time fall 2024 entering class. Pell Grant recipients complete at a lower rate. Their six-year completion rate is 63.4%, which is 10.5 percentage points below the overall rate. Enrolled students can expect a campus where most peers persist, though the gap for Pell recipients is a fact worth knowing. ## Data & methodology Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/). Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), founder of College Azimuth. Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source. Admission rates describe past applicants, not an individual’s chance of admission; confirm requirements and deadlines with the institution. Figure notes link to sources and limitations. [About College Azimuth](/about/).