Tennessee Public Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate of the 9 public Tennessee colleges that have competitive admission is 81.11% for the academic year 2023-2024. Compared to last year, the acceptance rate is lower by 1.87%. The acceptance rate at 3 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 46.00%. Middle Tennessee State University (68.00%) and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (77.00%) 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 $19,988 and graduate tuition & fees is $21,363 for the academic year 2023-2024.

We note that the actual tightness of admission lies in considering other admission requirements such as SAT score.
Table. Tightest Tennessee Public Colleges To Get In Comparison
School NameAcceptance RateYieldSAT ScoreUndergraduate Tuition & FeesTotal PopulationGraduation RateStudents to Faculty Ratio
1
-
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublic, 4-year 46.00%
22.41%
29.00%1,260$31,974
($13,484)
33,80572.00%18 to 1
2
-
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublic, 4-year 68.00%
4.54%
31.00%1,100$29,042
($9,506)
20,08654.00%16 to 1
3
1
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNPublic, 4-year 77.00%
5.65%
33.99%1,080$18,208
($10,144)
11,28352.00%16 to 1
4
1
Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TNPublic, 4-year 83.00%
4.90%
27.00%1,110$20,116
($10,084)
9,90260.00%18 to 1
5
-
East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TNPublic, 4-year 87.00%
1.74%
25.00%1,050$13,034
($9,706)
13,48355.00%16 to 1
5
1
The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin, TNPublic, 4-year 87.00%
1.44%
25.01%1,090$16,234
($10,194)
6,86852.00%15 to 1
7
1
University of Memphis Memphis, TNPublic, 4-year 93.00%
1.60%
18.00%1,070$14,784
($10,344)
21,91748.00%17 to 1
7Tennessee State University Nashville, TNPublic, 4-year 93.00%15.00%985$22,284
($8,568)
9,21832.00%14 to 1
9
2
Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TNPublic, 4-year 96.01%
2.19%
30.99%1,045$14,219
($8,675)
9,32643.00%14 to 1
Average81.11%26.11%1,088$19,988
($10,078)
15,09952.00%16 to 1