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The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Most applicants get into The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga — 81.1% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga sits in Chattanooga proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Engineering-Related Fields, where graduates median $92,900 four years out. Faculty pay averages $122,172 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 10,074 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 72.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1005 and 1185 — near the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga requires SAT or ACT scores from all applicants — the middle 50% ranges below describe The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's full admitted class, not a self-selected subset.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 510 | 550 | 605 |
| SAT Math | 495 | 530 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga received 9,096 applications and admitted 7,006 (77%), with 2,381 enrolling.
How The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga compares
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 81.1% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,448 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $51,151 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga student earns $51,151 — 6% above the Tennessee median of $48,382 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga prices by residency: $10,448 in-state versus $18,512 out-of-state — a $8,064 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga enrolls 10,074 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
50.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 50% don't — ask a The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Engineering-Related Fields | $92,900 |
| Chemical Engineering | $92,511 |
| Civil Engineering | $91,615 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,407 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $86,537 |
| Computer Science | $82,644 |
| Engineering, General | $81,757 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $77,838 |
| Chemistry | $71,634 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $66,554 |
| Political Science and Government | $63,654 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $60,807 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $56,558 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,565 |
| History | $50,756 |
| Biology, General | $50,597 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $48,413 |
| Social Work | $48,410 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,212 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,029 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $45,955 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,253 |
| Psychology, General | $44,700 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $43,858 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $42,031 |
| Legal Support Services | $37,876 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,293 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,020 |
Median earnings for these 28 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $51,151 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 19 additional The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
Among the admitted class, the middle 50% scored 1005–1185 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 81.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's acceptance rate?
77% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 7,006 admitted from 9,096 applicants.
How much does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga cost?
In-state tuition is $10,448; out-of-state students pay $18,512. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $51,151 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Tennessee Wesleyan University — 68.8% admitted
- Southern Adventist University — 65.5% admitted
- Tennessee State University — 70.1% admitted
- Tennessee Technological University — 76.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.