The average acceptance rate of the 9 public Tennessee colleges that have competitive admission is 75.65% for the academic year 2024-2025. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 5.52%. The acceptance rate at 4 public Tennessee colleges increased and the rate of 5 colleges decreased.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has the lowest (i.e. hard to admit) acceptance rate of 41.60%. Middle Tennessee State University (69.09%) and Tennessee State University (70.11%) are following it in the list of Tightest Tennessee Public Colleges to Get In.
This ranking is only based on acceptance rates and more admission stats such as SAT and ACT scores are helpful to measure the chances to get in more accurately.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville stays at first place of the lowest acceptance rate ranking since last year. Middle Tennessee State University also maintained its second place in the ranking.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the schools is $20,201 and graduate tuition & fees is $21,577 for the academic year 2024-2025.
We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.| School Name | Acceptance Rate | Yield | SAT Score | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Total Population | Graduation Rate | Students to Faculty Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublic, 4-year | 41.60% 4.39% | 27.37% | 1,280 | $33,256 ($13,812) | 38,728 | 74.00% | 18 to 1 |
| 2 - | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublic, 4-year | 69.09% 1.09% | 30.41% | 1,130 | $31,574 ($10,266) | 20,488 | 54.00% | 17 to 1 |
| 3 4 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TNPublic, 4-year | 70.11% 22.52% | 12.99% | 960 | $22,416 ($8,616) | 6,310 | 34.00% | 13 to 1 |
| 4 4 | University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublic, 4-year | 72.03% 21.35% | 18.06% | 1,035 | $15,384 ($10,728) | 20,276 | 51.00% | 16 to 1 |
| 5 1 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TNPublic, 4-year | 76.13% 7.03% | 22.84% | 1,180 | $15,576 ($11,376) | 10,511 | 58.00% | 16 to 1 |
| 6 3 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNPublic, 4-year | 81.09% 4.07% | 29.25% | 1,100 | $18,512 ($10,448) | 11,775 | 50.00% | 18 to 1 |
| 7 2 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublic, 4-year | 86.19% 0.87% | 24.68% | 1,080 | $13,726 ($10,216) | 13,728 | 53.00% | 15 to 1 |
| 8 2 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TNPublic, 4-year | 88.20% 0.88% | 22.76% | 1,110 | $16,600 ($10,560) | 7,499 | 53.00% | 16 to 1 |
| 9 - | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TNPublic, 4-year | 96.41% 0.46% | 27.47% | 1,005 | $14,766 ($9,006) | 10,439 | 40.00% | 14 to 1 |
| Average | 75.65% | 23.98% | 1,098 | $20,201 ($10,559) | 15,528 | 51.89% | 16 to 1 |