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
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 34% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 79th 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-Knoxville
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.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineering | $73,822 | $107,093 | +9% | #16 of 94 | #7 | $21,500 |
| Computer Science | $70,193 | $106,312 | -1% | #131 of 349 | #86 | $17,066 |
| Computer Engineering | $74,085 | $105,834 | -3% | #95 of 189 | #55 | $26,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $73,724 | $99,139 | +-0% | #6 of 12 | #3 | $22,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $75,316 | $93,642 | -7% | #210 of 258 | #111 | $21,565 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $59,501 | $92,042 | +7% | #45 of 126 | #30 | $24,812 |
| Chemical Engineering | $76,302 | $91,643 | -7% | #119 of 158 | #73 | $21,295 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $65,756 | $90,623 | -2% | #171 of 318 | #76 | $23,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $53,197 | $89,445 | +17% | #122 of 796 | #54 | $20,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | — | $89,015 | -9% | #53 of 59 | #37 | $25,000 |
| Soil Sciences | $55,322 | $88,563 | +43% | #1 of 6 | #1 | $22,798 |
| Agricultural Engineering | — | $85,141 | +1% | #13 of 26 | #6 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $53,826 | $83,793 | +1% | #156 of 452 | #103 | $20,500 |
| Statistics | — | $83,697 | -9% | #29 of 50 | #20 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $59,147 | $82,074 | +20% | #115 of 1176 | #53 | $19,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $64,386 | $80,958 | -6% | #186 of 233 | #90 | $21,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $44,025 | $80,415 | +3% | #40 of 84 | #24 | $23,847 |
| Chemistry | $41,589 | $79,736 | +22% | #19 of 209 | #1 | $16,962 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $65,298 | $77,118 | -13% | #843 of 966 | #651 | $12,500 |
| Marketing | $46,896 | $70,661 | +2% | #178 of 516 | #100 | $19,248 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $47,261 | $69,476 | -26% | #117 of 118 | #114 | $22,200 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $36,061 | $69,047 | +34% | #21 of 299 | #12 | — |
| Architecture | $50,365 | $68,765 | +3% | #33 of 78 | #15 | $31,000 |
| Food Science and Technology | $48,441 | $68,114 | -4% | #19 of 29 | #8 | $20,632 |
| Economics | $46,302 | $67,902 | -18% | #295 of 368 | #231 | $20,750 |
| Interior Architecture | $45,448 | $65,144 | +8% | #4 of 17 | #3 | $26,000 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $43,014 | $63,996 | +20% | #7 of 19 | #6 | $18,500 |
| Materials Engineering | $63,505 | — | — | — | — | $19,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $42,173 | $63,314 | +-0% | #80 of 178 | #49 | $21,119 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $49,956 | $63,005 | -7% | #139 of 187 | #98 | $20,248 |
| Plant Sciences | $40,355 | $61,587 | +9% | #11 of 44 | #7 | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,728 | $60,073 | -5% | #318 of 565 | #178 | $20,500 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | — | $59,769 | -10% | #54 of 77 | #48 | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | $59,347 | +1% | #105 of 215 | #51 | $16,394 |
| Philosophy | — | $59,329 | +9% | #35 of 86 | #17 | $26,000 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $18,122 | $58,972 | -2% | #34 of 53 | #8 | $24,914 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $36,439 | $58,854 | +4% | #47 of 137 | #22 | $21,500 |
| Biology | $27,487 | $58,149 | +2% | #413 of 841 | #239 | $22,078 |
| Forestry | $31,441 | $57,436 | -2% | #19 of 31 | #14 | $25,548 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $41,258 | $57,394 | +2% | #233 of 660 | #103 | $19,611 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,374 | $57,020 | +5% | #191 of 610 | #115 | $19,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $23,404 | $56,155 | +1% | #88 of 207 | #49 | $19,500 |
| Geography and Cartography | $44,553 | $54,656 | -6% | #88 of 117 | #58 | $24,500 |
| Sociology | $35,723 | $53,635 | +2% | #201 of 462 | #86 | $19,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $31,713 | $52,703 | +5% | #40 of 90 | #20 | $20,612 |
| Journalism | $32,082 | $52,663 | -6% | #120 of 187 | #67 | $20,157 |
| History | $28,713 | $52,505 | +4% | #197 of 459 | #78 | $15,750 |
| Agricultural Public Services | $43,324 | $52,060 | -4% | #6 of 10 | #5 | $19,500 |
| Mathematics | $39,043 | $50,605 | -27% | #298 of 309 | #281 | $25,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | $50,585 | +0% | #100 of 177 | #47 | — |
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.
🏆 Where The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,332 | $29,522 |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $33,678 | $52,168 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,397 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,714 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,820 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,297 |
| $110,001+ | $25,438 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
How much does it cost to attend The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville a good school?
- Outcomes (A): 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 (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology