The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville at a Glance
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state, it is the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee system, with 14 colleges. It hosts more than 30,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries.
1794
232 years old
$1.9B
$1.92 billion (2025) (system-wide)
40,421
32,041 undergrad · 8,164 grad
1,700
920 acres
Identity
How to Apply to The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Official admissions pageDecember 8 (Early Action)
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Worth It?
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville offers moderate value at $18,976/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $60,249, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 74% graduation rate means roughly 26% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How The University of Tennessee-Knoxville compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #9 of 11 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #2 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 100 | $14,600 | $72,424 |
| #3 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 98 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 84 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| #6 | San Diego State University | 82 | $15,364 | $64,909 |
| #9 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 59 | $18,976 | $60,249 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
The highest-earning program at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is Nuclear Engineering at $71,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $15,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Nuclear Engineering graduate from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earns $71,100, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $15,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Nuclear Engineering graduates carry $20,500 in median debt vs. $21,250 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,976/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineering | $71,100 | $71,100 | $20,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,300 | $66,300 | $24,507 |
| Industrial Engineering | $65,000 | $65,000 | $22,050 |
| Chemical Engineering | $64,700 | $64,700 | $25,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,600 | $63,600 | $23,017 |
| Computer Science | $59,600 | $59,600 | $20,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $54,500 | $54,500 | $27,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $53,600 | $53,600 | $21,184 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $52,300 | $52,300 | $16,900 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $50,600 | $50,600 | $20,500 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $50,500 | $50,500 | $20,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $45,800 | $45,800 | $18,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,600 | $44,600 | $19,500 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $43,700 | $43,700 | $22,756 |
| Architecture | $43,600 | $43,600 | $27,000 |
| Marketing | $41,300 | $41,300 | $19,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $38,500 | $38,500 | $21,000 |
| Economics | $38,200 | $38,200 | $22,250 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $37,900 | $37,900 | $20,500 |
| Food Science and Technology | $37,100 | $37,100 | $22,625 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $34,700 | $34,700 | $19,500 |
| Soil Sciences | $34,300 | $34,300 | $24,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $33,600 | $33,600 | $19,555 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $33,400 | $33,400 | $21,250 |
| Mathematics | $33,200 | $33,200 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,800 | $32,800 | $20,256 |
| Sociology | $31,600 | $31,600 | $17,500 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $30,900 | $30,900 | $20,250 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $30,700 | $30,700 | $21,259 |
| Journalism | $29,500 | $29,500 | $20,500 |
| Social Work | $29,100 | $29,100 | $17,875 |
| History | $28,800 | $28,800 | $20,578 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $28,200 | $28,200 | $21,348 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $27,900 | $27,900 | $16,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,900 | $27,900 | $21,598 |
| Anthropology | $27,700 | $27,700 | $23,500 |
| Psychology, General | $27,000 | $27,000 | $21,125 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $25,800 | $25,800 | $19,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $25,500 | $25,500 | $23,500 |
| Animal Sciences | $25,200 | $25,200 | $22,221 |
| Music | $25,200 | $25,200 | $26,000 |
| Chemistry | $25,000 | $25,000 | $21,250 |
| Biology, General | $24,600 | $24,600 | $22,750 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $24,400 | $24,400 | $21,252 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $23,800 | $23,800 | $20,875 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,800 | $21,800 | $27,750 |
| Nutrition Sciences | $21,300 | $21,300 | $16,500 |
| Plant Sciences | $20,200 | $20,200 | $22,078 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $15,500 | $15,500 | $21,250 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Student Body
- 30,418 students
- Admission Rate
- 42%
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,976
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $60,249
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500