The average acceptance rate at UTK over the past 10 years is 69.63%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 41.60%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to UTK in 2025.
The acceptance rate has decreased each year for the past 5 years, indicating increasing selectivity.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 30.75%, and the 2025 yield is 27.37%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 24.43% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of UTK applicants increased by 18.37% (9,276 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 249.89% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 41.60%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that UTK has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 27.37%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at UTK. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, UTK received approximately 59,764 applications, admitted 24,863 students, and enrolled 6,804 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UTK is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
UTK 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UTK over the past decade show a consistent pattern of increasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate declining year-over-year for 5 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 69.63%, while the most recent rate stands at 41.60%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 41.60%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 69.51% and for women is 69.69%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UTK have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 76.30% | 76.10% | 76.45% |
| 2016-17 | 77.22% 0.93% |
77.31% 1.21% |
77.15% 0.70% |
| 2017-18 | 76.97% -0.25% |
77.10% -0.21% |
76.87% -0.28% |
| 2018-19 | 77.78% 0.81% |
78.04% 0.94% |
77.60% 0.73% |
| 2019-20 | 78.85% 1.06% |
79.38% 1.33% |
78.48% 0.88% |
| 2020-21 | 78.15% -0.70% |
77.91% -1.47% |
78.30% -0.18% |
| 2021-22 | 75.00% -3.15% |
72.00% -5.91% |
77.00% -1.30% |
| 2022-23 | 68.41% -6.59% |
66.26% -5.75% |
69.74% -7.26% |
| 2023-24 | 45.99% -22.42% |
46.05% -20.21% |
45.96% -23.78% |
| 2024-25 | 41.60% -4.39% |
44.97% -1.07% |
39.35% -6.61% |
| Average | 69.63% | 69.51% | 69.69% |
UTK has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 36.21% in 2015 to 27.37% in 2025, representing a 24.43% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 30.75%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UTK from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 24.43% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 36.21% | 40.00% | 33.21% |
| 2016-17 | 35.73% -0.48% |
40.28% 0.28% |
32.27% -0.94% |
| 2017-18 | 33.70% -2.03% |
36.93% -3.35% |
31.22% -1.05% |
| 2018-19 | 32.77% -0.92% |
36.63% -0.30% |
30.04% -1.18% |
| 2019-20 | 30.62% -2.16% |
35.58% -1.05% |
27.13% -2.91% |
| 2020-21 | 27.74% -2.87% |
30.27% -5.31% |
26.09% -1.04% |
| 2021-22 | 27.00% -0.74% |
30.00% -0.27% |
24.00% -2.09% |
| 2022-23 | 27.58% 0.57% |
31.15% 1.15% |
25.48% 1.48% |
| 2023-24 | 28.83% 1.25% |
32.41% 1.26% |
26.40% 0.93% |
| 2024-25 | 27.37% -1.46% |
29.74% -2.67% |
25.55% -0.85% |
| Average | 30.75% | 34.30% | 28.14% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 29,763, the average number of admitted is 18,942, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 5,685.
The number of UTK applicants increased by 18.37% (9,276 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 249.89% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 17,081 | 13,032 | 4,719 |
| 2016-17 | 17,583 2.94% |
13,578 4.19% |
4,851 2.80% |
| 2017-18 | 18,872 7.33% |
14,526 6.98% |
4,895 0.91% |
| 2018-19 | 20,457 8.40% |
15,912 9.54% |
5,215 6.54% |
| 2019-20 | 21,764 6.39% |
17,160 7.84% |
5,254 0.75% |
| 2020-21 | 25,423 16.81% |
19,867 15.78% |
5,512 4.91% |
| 2021-22 | 29,909 17.65% |
22,432 12.91% |
6,057 9.89% |
| 2022-23 | 36,290 21.33% |
24,826 10.67% |
6,846 13.03% |
| 2023-24 | 50,488 39.12% |
23,221 -6.46% |
6,694 -2.22% |
| 2024-25 | 59,764 18.37% |
24,863 7.07% |
6,804 1.64% |
| Average | 29,763 | 18,942 | 5,685 |
The following table compares The University of Tennessee-Knoxville' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 45.99% | 41.60% | -9.55% |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 73.33% | 74.00% | -0.91% |
| University of Kentucky | 92.94% | 92.38% | 0.61% |
| Auburn University | 45.92% | 50.47% | -9.02% |
| University of Mississippi | 96.58% | 97.78% | -1.23% |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | 78.47% | 77.02% | 1.88% |
Share your experiences and thoughts about The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. It will be a great help to applicants and prospective students!