The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It enrolls 10,074 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes36
Value77
Affordability64
Selectivity42
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.1%, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1013 – 1210
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,265 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,265
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
37%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,448
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,512
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,604
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,896
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,100
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,489
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,876
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,919
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,594
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,374
Over $110,000
$19,137
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,90010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$24,25075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,482
↓ $6,018
No Pell $11,000
↓ $8,500
Dependent students $11,670
↓ $7,830
Independent students $14,729
↓ $4,771
Female students $12,000
↓ $7,500
Male students $12,000
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga earn a median of $51,151 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,151
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,000, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is home to 10,074 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
10,074
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.0%7,459
Black 9.8%991
Hispanic 6.7%677
Other 5.0%508
Asian 3.1%311
International 0.6%64
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityChattanooga, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential3,557 beds available
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
72 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,926
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$196M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,142
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
522 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
136
26%
$115,348
Associate Professors
110
21%
$95,560
Assistant Professors
125
24%
$74,358
Instructors
10
2%
$58,190
Lecturers
141
27%
$59,352
Pros & Cons of The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
A quick at-a-glance summary of how The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga hard to get into?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has an acceptance rate of 81.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga scored between 1013 and 1210 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The middle 50% of admitted students at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga scored between 20 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga cost?
The average net price after aid at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is $14,265 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,151 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,265 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga known for?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is best known for its programs in Psychology, Kinesiology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga are $51,151, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga accredited?
Yes. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga enrolls 10,074 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga a public or private college?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is a Public institution.
Where is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga located?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What programs does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga offer?
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga offers 72 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Kinesiology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
The student-to-faculty ratio at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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