Founded in 1794 and originally chartered as Blount College, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the largest college in the state of Tennessee. With more than 21 thousand undergraduates and almost six thousand graduate students, the university spans 560 acres in the heart of Knoxville. As the oldest university in the state and one of the oldest in the nation, the University of Tennessee Knoxville holds great esteem for its dynamic range of degree programs that it offers, as well as a nationally competitive law school and School of Veterinary Medicine. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to one, UT Knoxville employs 1,700 instructors and offers more than 300 degree programs across 11 colleges.
University of Tennessee Knoxville Accreditation Details
Endorsed since 1897 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the University of Tennessee Knoxville holds accreditation for all baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees.
University of Tennessee Knoxville Application Requirements
Undergraduate applicants are considered based on a measure of completion of core academic subjects, core GPA, and ACT or SAT scores. Your GPA is weighted to reflect honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual enrollment courses for the UT core GPA computation. UT does not require an essay, however, other individual factors are taken into consideration for each applicant.
The Office of Graduate Admissions outlines all degree admission requirements for prospective and returning students. Students must meet these minimum requirements and any specific program requirements related to their area of study, including a completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or equivalent non-US degree, a minimum 2.7 out of 4.0 undergraduate GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA for previous graduate coursework, and standardized tests scores depending on program requirements. For those with non-English native languages, TOEFL or IELTS test scores are required for full admittance. Furthermore, certain programs require GRE or GMAT test scores and equivalents.
In addition to meeting all of the above requirements, doctoral candidates demonstrate exceptional academic success measured by multiple levels of scholarly success, including superior undergraduate academic accomplishment, graduate admissions test achievement, and letters of recommendation from professors.
Since many online courses offer interactive, real-time class participation, all distance education students must meet computer requirements for online classes, and use the School's online ZOOM software to access all program benefits and features.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Like most colleges, how much you pay for tuition depends on your state of residency. Undergraduate tuition is $6,362 per semester for in-state students and $15,572 per semester for out-of-state students, while tuition for graduate students is $6,417 or $15,626 per semester based on status of in-state or out-of-state residency. Additionally, some programs are available to out-of-state students at in-state tuition rates through the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market program.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify from the federal government and the state of Tennessee, and offers guidance for students seeking private scholarships and other awards.
Types of aid offered include:
- Loans
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Work Study
- Study Abroad
- Consortium agreements for transient students attending other institutions
- Aid for summer classes
Students need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet four standards to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. All grant, loan, work study, and state sponsored grant and scholarship recipients must achieve and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, enroll in a minimum number of credit hours per semester, successfully complete at least 67% of total attempted hours, complete their degree within 150% of the published length of their major, and cannot withdraw more than once.
Online Degrees Available
The University of Tennessee Knoxville offers a wide range of master's degree programs online that include courses of study to best prepare professionals, whether they are starting their career or have worked in their field for many years.
Ranked among the nation's top programs and recently awarded by the Tennessee Alliance for Continuing Higher Education's (TACHE) for Innovative Credit Programming, the online Master's in Social Work (MSSW) offered by the University of Tennessee is taught by the same professors who teach on-campus MSSW courses. Areas of study include Social Work and Social Welfare Policies and Programs, Evidence-Based Practice, Advanced Field Practice, and more. Students can choose from three different online courses of study, including advanced, full-time, or extended study to fit individual needs.
- The online advanced program starts in the summer and can be completed on a 12-month full-time schedule, or an extended part-time schedule requiring 18 to 24 months of study. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA and hold a BSW or BSSW from an accredited program within the last five years. Additionally, students will complete one field placement totaling 672 hours.
- The full-time and online extended programs both start in the fall semester and include two field placements including a 352 hour field placement as part of the foundation curriculum, and a 672 hour field placement as part of the concentration curriculum. To be considered for this program, applicants are required to have a minimum 2.7 GPA.
The College of Engineering, ranked 63rd in the nation and 36th among all public universities, offers five online masters degrees to provide opportunities for full-time students and professionals in the field. Degree programs are offered in civil engineering, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, Reliability and Maintainability Engineering (RME), and nuclear engineering. Graduate certificates can also be obtained online in Nuclear Critical Safety, Reliability and Maintainability Engineering, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Engineering Management.
The School of Information Sciences at UT Knoxville offers a Master of Science for those seeking employment as a professional librarian who have completed and undergraduate degree at an accredited institution. This 36-hour program offers classes through real-time, interactive audio where students can listen to a lecture, ask questions, engage in class discussion, and view presentations. To be eligible, applicants must have average GRE scores above the 50th percentile taken within the last five years. No GRE is required if 12 graduate hours have been completed with a 3.0 GPA.
Related Resource: 30 Most Affordable Top Online Master's in Engineering Degree Programs
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville offers strategic curriculum and advanced online technologies to ensure graduates gain invaluable skills and knowledge to advance as qualifying professionals in many fields.