University of Tennessee Knoxville Acceptance Rate 2026: GPA, SAT & Admissions Guide

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🍊 UT Knoxville acceptance rate 2026 guide

University of Tennessee Knoxville Acceptance Rate 2026: 43.6%, GPA, SAT, ACT & Admissions Guide

43.6%

Direct answer: The latest finalized UT Knoxville Common Data Set shows 53,841 first-year applicants, 23,464 admits, and 7,143 enrolled. That equals an acceptance rate of about 43.6%.

For 2026 applicants, UT Knoxville is best understood as moderately selective overall, but much more competitive for out-of-state students, Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, Music and scholarship-focused applicants.

This guide gives the practical answers first: acceptance rate, Fall 2026 admit profile, GPA/SAT/ACT targets, deadlines, test-score rules, program-specific requirements, costs, checklist and official UT links.

📊 Acceptance rate 📚 GPA & scores 📅 Deadlines ✅ Checklist
43.6% Latest CDS admit rate

23,464 admits from 53,841 applicants in the latest finalized Common Data Set.

27,864 Fall 2026 admits

UT’s Fall 2026 release summary lists 27,864 admitted students.

4.08–4.50 Mid-50% UT Core GPA

Fall 2026 admitted-student overview for UT Core Weighted GPA.

28–32 Mid-50% ACT

Equivalent SAT range listed by UT: 1300–1440.

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📊 Acceptance rate answer 🎯 Fall 2026 admit profile 📚 GPA, SAT and ACT 📅 Deadlines and decisions 📄 Application materials 🏫 Nursing, Engineering, Music 💰 Cost and aid ❓ 10 FAQs

University of Tennessee Knoxville acceptance rate 2026: direct answer

Search intent Answer What it means for applicants
UT Knoxville acceptance rate About 43.6% from the latest finalized CDS. UTK is selective but not impossible. Strong applicants still need a complete, timely application.
Applicants 53,841 first-year applicants in the CDS cycle. UTK has a large applicant pool, so late or incomplete files are risky.
Admitted students 23,464 admits in the CDS cycle. The admit rate is not the same for every major or residency group.
Enrolled students 7,143 first-year enrollees. Yield and enrollment management affect admission decisions.
Fall 2026 competitiveness UT says Fall 2026 was its most competitive applicant pool in history. Use recent admitted GPA/test ranges, not old “easy admit” assumptions.
UTK acceptance rate = 23,464 admits ÷ 53,841 applicants = 43.6% approximate latest finalized admit rate

Fall 2026 admitted student profile: what competitive looks like

Group Mid-50% UT Core Weighted GPA Mid-50% ACT What to understand
All admitted students 4.08–4.50 28–32 ACT / 1300–1440 SAT equivalent This is the strongest quick benchmark for 2026 applicants.
Tennessee residents 4.07–4.50 26–32 In-state applicants may also benefit from guaranteed admission pathways.
Out-of-state applicants 4.11–4.50 29–32 OOS applicants should treat UTK as more competitive than the overall rate suggests.
International applicants 3.81–4.33 27–33 International review includes documents, testing and immigration-related steps.
Best reading of the data: A 43.6% acceptance rate does not mean a low-effort application is safe. The admitted profile shows UTK has become more competitive, especially for out-of-state and high-demand majors.

UT Knoxville GPA, SAT and ACT requirements for 2026

GPA answer

UT’s Fall 2026 admitted mid-50% UT Core Weighted GPA was 4.08–4.50. Aim for strong grades in core academic courses, not just an inflated overall GPA.

SAT answer

UT listed a 1300–1440 SAT equivalent for the Fall 2026 admitted mid-50% profile. SAT Math matters especially for Engineering.

ACT answer

The Fall 2026 admitted mid-50% ACT was 28–32. In-state and out-of-state ranges differ, with OOS admitted students showing stronger scores.

Test policy answer

UT Knoxville requires ACT or SAT for first-year applicants and uses superscoring for admission and institutional merit scholarship review.

What UT looks at in review

Senior-year coursework difficulty ACT/SAT scores College and major choice High school curriculum rigor Extracurricular leadership Job and volunteer experience Awards Special talents or skills Optional supporting statement Letters of recommendation
Score strategy: UT superscores, so self-report all useful ACT/SAT test dates. For SAT, UT superscores Evidence-Based Reading and Writing plus Math. Optional essays are not used.

UT Knoxville deadlines and decision dates

Deadline item Date What must happen
Early Action submission November 1 Submit Go Vols Application or Common App.
Early Action materials November 15 Complete STARS grades/transcript and self-report test scores.
Tennessee EA decision Early December In-state Early Action decision release.
Out-of-state EA decision Mid-December OOS Early Action decision release.
Regular Decision submission January 5 Submit the application by this date.
Regular Decision materials January 20 Complete required materials, STARS and self-reported test scores.
Regular Decision release Early March / March RD decisions are released around March.
Enrollment confirmation May 1, 11:59 p.m. ET Confirm enrollment if attending.
Official test scores May 15 Official ACT/SAT scores must be sent directly from the testing agency.
Important: A submitted application is not the same as a completed application. UT says completed first-year files include the application, STARS self-reported grades/unofficial transcript and self-reported standardized test scores.

UT Knoxville application materials you need

Go Vols Application or Common App STARS self-reported transcript Unofficial high school transcript upload Self-reported ACT or SAT scores One required essay $75 application fee Fee waiver if eligible Optional supporting statement Recommendation letters if useful Major-specific materials if required
Application item Why it matters Common mistake
STARS UT uses it for self-reported high school grades and transcript upload. Submitting Common App but forgetting STARS.
ACT/SAT scores Required for first-year admission review. Thinking UTK is test optional.
Essay One required essay helps UT evaluate fit and readiness. Writing a generic essay with no Tennessee/major connection.
$75 fee Required unless waived. Waiting until the deadline and then facing payment/waiver issues.
Major-specific extras Some colleges require portfolio, audition/interview or test-score review. Choosing Nursing, Engineering or Music without checking extra requirements.

Tennessee in-state guaranteed admission: who qualifies?

Requirement UT listed threshold Meaning
ACT/SAT composite 24+ ACT composite or 1160+ SAT Students also need listed subscore thresholds.
Math subscore 19+ ACT Math or 510+ SAT Math Math readiness is part of the guaranteed-admission rule.
English / ERW subscore 19+ ACT English or 500+ SAT ERW Reading/writing readiness also matters.
GPA or rank 4.0+ UT Core GPA or top 10% class rank Students must meet the test rule plus one academic standing rule.
Major warning: Guaranteed admission to UT does not automatically mean guaranteed admission to every competitive college or major.

Program-specific requirements: Nursing, Engineering, Music and Architecture

Program / college Extra admissions detail Applicant action
College of Nursing Standardized test scores are required; applicants should mark Nursing as first-choice major. Do not apply undecided and expect automatic Nursing review.
Tickle College of Engineering Minimum SPI predictor should be at least 60, with math ACT 25 or math SAT 590 for consideration. Use the SPI formula and strengthen math/test readiness early.
Architecture and Design Portfolio is not required but is recommended; decisions are holistic by faculty. Submit a focused portfolio if it strengthens your creative readiness.
Natalie L. Haslam College of Music Depending on concentration, audition and/or interview may be required. Prepare audition material before application deadlines.
Engineering SPI = ACT Math score + (10 × core high school GPA on 4.0 scale)

UT Knoxville cost and aid: quick numbers applicants ask for

Cost item In-state estimate Out-of-state estimate
Tuition and fees $13,876 $33,336
Housing and food $14,738 $14,738
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment $1,598 $1,598
Total listed key costs $30,212 $49,672
Aid note: UT says 94% of first-year students in 2025 received scholarships and grants from federal, UT and private sources. File FAFSA and check scholarship deadlines early.

How to apply to UT Knoxville in 2026: scan-first checklist

Pick your application route Use either the Go Vols Application or Common App.
Submit by Nov. 1 if possible Early Action helps with scholarship consideration and earlier decision timing.
Complete STARS Self-report grades and upload the unofficial high school transcript.
Self-report ACT/SAT scores UTK requires standardized test scores for first-year applicants.
Use superscoring smartly Report all helpful scores so UT can calculate the strongest composite.
Check your major Nursing, Engineering, Architecture and Music can require extra review or materials.
Write the essay with purpose Connect your preparation to your major, leadership, service, Tennessee fit or goals.
Verify official scores by May 15 After admission and confirmation, UT needs official scores from the testing agency.

Common mistakes that hurt UT Knoxville applicants

  • Only looking at the 43.6% rate: Out-of-state and competitive-major admissions can be tougher.
  • Thinking UTK is test optional: ACT or SAT is required for first-year applicants.
  • Missing STARS: A submitted application is not complete without required self-reported academic materials.
  • Ignoring materials deadlines: Nov. 15 and Jan. 20 matter after the application deadline.
  • Applying Nursing without choosing it first: Direct-entry Nursing applicants should list Nursing as first-choice major.
  • Not checking Engineering SPI: Engineering applicants should check math score and GPA readiness.
  • Weak essay: Use the required essay to show preparation, fit and direction.
  • Waiting on fee waiver: Fee waiver processing can take time.
  • Ignoring cost differences: In-state and out-of-state totals are very different.
  • Sending official scores too late: Official scores are required after admission/confirmation for final verification and scholarships.

Official UT Knoxville links and sources

The useful official details are already included above. Use these links for final verification before submitting or updating your application.

UTK First-Year Application

Deadlines, application checklist, STARS, essay, fee and program-specific requirements.

Open first-year application page

Important Dates & Deadlines

Early Action, Regular Decision, materials deadlines and confirmation dates.

Open deadlines page

Test Score Policy

ACT/SAT requirement, superscoring, ACT/SAT codes and official-score rules.

Open test-score policy

Fall 2026 Release Summary

Admitted count, GPA and test-score ranges, application trends and in-state snapshot.

Open Fall 2026 release

Common Data Set

Official applicant, admit, enrollee, GPA and score data.

Open UTK Common Data Set

Cost and Aid

In-state and out-of-state key costs, scholarships, aid and net price resources.

Open cost and aid page

FAQs about University of Tennessee Knoxville acceptance rate 2026

What is the University of Tennessee Knoxville acceptance rate for 2026?

The latest finalized Common Data Set shows 23,464 admits from 53,841 applicants, which equals an acceptance rate of about 43.6%.

Is UT Knoxville hard to get into?

UT Knoxville is moderately selective overall, but UT says Fall 2026 was its most competitive applicant pool in history. Out-of-state and competitive-major applicants should treat it as more selective.

What GPA do you need for UT Knoxville?

UT’s Fall 2026 admitted-student profile lists a mid-50% UT Core Weighted GPA of 4.08–4.50. Strong core grades and course rigor matter.

What SAT score is good for UT Knoxville?

UT’s Fall 2026 admitted profile lists a 1300–1440 SAT equivalent as the mid-50% range. Scores above the range are stronger, especially for out-of-state and competitive-major applicants.

What ACT score is good for UT Knoxville?

The Fall 2026 admitted mid-50% ACT range was 28–32 overall. Tennessee admitted students were 26–32, out-of-state students 29–32 and international students 27–33.

Is UT Knoxville test optional?

No. UT Knoxville requires first-year applicants to self-report ACT or SAT scores as part of the application.

What are UT Knoxville deadlines?

Early Action submission is November 1, Early Action materials are due November 15, Regular Decision submission is January 5 and Regular Decision materials are due January 20.

Does UT Knoxville have guaranteed admission?

Yes, for eligible Tennessee students who meet UT’s listed ACT/SAT, subscore and GPA or class-rank requirements. Competitive majors may still have additional review.

Is Engineering harder at UT Knoxville?

Yes. Tickle College of Engineering uses additional criteria, including SPI, math ACT or math SAT readiness and holistic review.

How can I improve my UT Knoxville application?

Apply Early Action, complete STARS on time, self-report strong ACT/SAT scores, write a focused essay, check major-specific requirements and submit all materials before the deadline.

Bottom line: University of Tennessee Knoxville’s latest finalized acceptance rate is about 43.6%, but Fall 2026 admissions became more competitive. A strong applicant should aim near or above the 4.08–4.50 GPA and 28–32 ACT / 1300–1440 SAT admitted range, complete STARS and test-score requirements on time, and check extra requirements for Nursing, Engineering, Architecture or Music.

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