C+
Above Average
Score: 60/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
56/100 · earnings-weighted

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

4-Year Public
📍 Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga campus, Chattanooga, TN
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga campus, Chattanooga, TN. Photo: M-State Moc at English Wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B
69/100
Affordability
C+
59/100
Resources
C+
57/100
Experience
B
73/100
Prestige
C
43/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

11,380
Total Enrollment
53%
Graduation Rate
74%
Retention Rate
17.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
77%
Acceptance Rate
$13,801
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga ▼

4% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$391,883
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,661
1-Year Change
-0.4%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$51,151
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$42,209
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,500
Median debt at graduation
50.2%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,147
Average SAT
23
Median ACT
32.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 38% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 52nd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (TN wage index 0.84). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Engineering-Related Fields$60,284$92,900+4%#13 of 33#9$24,570
Chemical Engineering$57,952$92,511-6%#114 of 158#67—
Civil Engineering$65,419$91,615+6%#45 of 233#4$18,000
Mechanical Engineering$66,517$89,407-3%#207 of 318#89$20,841
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$75,273$86,537-14%#249 of 258#202$23,000
Computer Science$59,567$82,644-23%#290 of 349#250$21,975
Engineering—$81,757-9%#50 of 57#32—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$65,273$77,838-12%#815 of 966#601$18,740
Chemistry$41,588$71,634+10%#63 of 209#19$24,499
Business Administration, Management and Operations$45,308$66,554-2%#500 of 1176#304$21,207
Political Science and Government$39,490$63,654+1%#239 of 565#119$21,250
Design and Applied Arts$41,968$60,807+18%#73 of 299#34$25,000
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies—$56,558+12%#13 of 63#11—
Criminal Justice and Corrections$37,403$53,565-3%#378 of 660#206$18,214
History$26,952$50,756+0%#225 of 459#109—
Biology$29,643$50,597-12%#669 of 841#532$19,500
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$29,772$48,413-11%#461 of 610#364$18,108
Social Work$27,923$48,410-7%#314 of 420#232$17,500
Communication and Media Studies$33,082$48,212-14%#499 of 660#387$20,147
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$39,481$46,029-3%#433 of 680#317$21,250
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$28,188$45,955-16%#248 of 265#196$18,894
English Language and Literature$22,999$45,253-7%#403 of 576#275$18,500
Psychology$30,984$44,700-12%#814 of 1027#616$18,968
Social Sciences$28,194$43,858-23%#33 of 35#28$20,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services—$42,031-16%#72 of 90#60—
Legal Support Services—$37,876-29%#32 of 32#32—
Fine and Studio Arts$21,766$37,293-10%#312 of 423#236$24,145
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities—$34,020-36%#474 of 476#466—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $391,883
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,661/mo — vs ~$827/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 37407 (8.2% cap, Chattanooga)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#15
Social Sciences, Other
of 22 schools
#22
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
of 93 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $8,232 $16,296
Room $7,442
Board $4,464
Total Cost (On-Campus) $26,546 $34,610

Financial Aid

95%
Receive Any Aid
34%
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Take Out Loans
$13,801
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$8,492
$30,001 - $48,000$9,682
$48,001 - $75,000$12,478
$75,001 - $110,000$17,332
$110,001+$16,862

Student Demographics

11,380
Total Students
59%
Women
89%
Traditional Age (18-24)
4%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 68%
Hispanic 6%
Black 9%
Asian 3%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 82%
Off-Campus (Renters) 4%
With Family 14%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~455 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 23%
Hybrid (Some Online) 66%
Fully Online 11%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 89%
25-64 (Adult) 9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has an acceptance rate of 77%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
Tuition at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is $8,232 for in-state students and $16,296 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $13,801.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is 53%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga a good school?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has a Repit College Score of 60/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has a total enrollment of 11,380 students. Most students (89%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
Yes! Approximately 4% of students at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 455 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · 21,736 students
C+
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · 13,586 students
C+
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · 10,117 students
C+
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · 6,941 students
C+
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · 9,945 students
C+
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN · 8,198 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology