loading 6,000+ schools…

Compare University of Memphis vs The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Memphis, TN · Knoxville, TN

University of MemphisThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Cost
Price after aid (average)$12,397/yr$18,976/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$10,607/yr$10,029/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$23,300$20,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$10,968/yr$12,162/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$13,923/yr$18,206/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$17,384/yr$23,627/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$18,691/yr$25,688/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$247/mo$217/mo
Room & board (on campus)$11,342/yr$13,356/yr
Room & board (off campus)$11,342/yr$16,448/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$920/yr$1,598/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$6,654/yr$6,298/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$25,169/yr$33,678/yr
Tuition (in-state)$10,728/yr$13,812/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$15,384/yr$33,256/yr
Students with Pell Grants41%19%
Students taking federal loans38%29%
Getting in
Students who get accepted72%42%
SAT range (middle 50%)915–11801200–1370
SAT average10881311
ACT range (middle 50%)18–2425–31
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 17–25 · Math 16–23English 24–32 · Math 24–29
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received15,64050,488
Students accepted14,60523,221
Students who enrolled2,5916,694
Accepted students who enroll18%29%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores3%28%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores77%78%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Required
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Required
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
SAT/ACT policyRequiredRequired
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate51%74%
Freshmen who come back77%92%
Typical earnings 10 years in$48,458/yr$60,249/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$29,737–$70,926$39,008–$88,456
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)51%72%
White students graduating57%75%
Black students graduating40%62%
Hispanic students graduating58%67%
Asian students graduating62%77%
Typical earnings 6 years in$40,921/yr$47,782/yr
Earn more than a HS grad68%76%
Graduate on time33%57%
Pell students who graduate44%65%
First-gen students who finish49%60%
Low-income students who finish46%57%
Students who transfer out14%16%
Typical earnings 8 years in$44,264/yr$54,188/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 19% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 13% · Health Professions 12%Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Engineering 9% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 7%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 19% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees
2nd most popular programParks, Recreation & Fitness — 13% of degreesEngineering — 9% of degrees
3rd most popular programHealth Professions — 12% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees
4th most popular programEngineering — 6% of degreesHealth Professions — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programPsychology — 6% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $98,692/yrIndustrial Engineering — $109,778/yr
Degrees in STEM15%20%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment12,70130,418
Students per professor16 : 118 : 1
Graduate students4,5068,164
Average professor pay$9,632/mo$12,968/mo
Full-time professors73%83%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$28,800$54,206
SettingCity (large)City (midsize)
LocationMemphis, TNKnoxville, TN
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded19121794
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students2%0.9%
Men40%47%
Women60%53%
White students35%78%
Black students41%3.8%
Hispanic or Latino students12%6.7%
Asian students4.7%3.8%
Two or more races4.3%5.3%
Other / not reported0.8%1.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students37%25%
Part-time students18%2.9%
Students age 25+18%4%
Spent on teaching per student$9,356/yr$13,098/yr
Endowment$377.6M$1.2B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing2,8648,700
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$6,330/yrNo data reported
Meal plan charge$4,560/yrNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneLand-grant institution
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air ForceYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesYesNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1616
Student athletes468636
Athletic scholarships$9.2M$23.7M
Athletics budget$65.9M$285.4M
Athletics revenue$65.9M$285.4M
Recruiting spend$1.3M$5.1M

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.