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University of Memphis
Most applicants get into University of Memphis — 72% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
University of Memphis sits in Memphis proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $90,207 four years out. Faculty pay averages $115,584 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 12,701 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 77.4% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 905 and 1205 — below the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Memphis's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 905–1205 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, University of Memphis's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 465 | 540 | 615 |
| SAT Math | 440 | 530 | 590 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 20 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Memphis received 15,640 applications and admitted 14,605 (93.4%), with 2,591 enrolling.
How University of Memphis compares
| University of Memphis | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 72% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,728 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $48,458 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Memphis student earns $48,458 — 0% above the Tennessee median of $48,382 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Memphis prices by residency: $10,728 in-state versus $15,384 out-of-state — a $4,656 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of Memphis enrolls 12,701 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of Memphis's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
50.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 49% don't — ask a University of Memphis tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Memphis
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $90,207 |
| Computer Engineering | $89,702 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,516 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $89,515 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $88,279 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $79,914 |
| Civil Engineering | $79,598 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,444 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $73,323 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $71,038 |
| Marketing | $67,468 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $65,132 |
| Mathematics | $65,079 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $65,045 |
| International Business | $62,729 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $58,237 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $57,162 |
| Biology, General | $53,784 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,399 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $52,627 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $51,232 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $50,497 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,126 |
| Political Science and Government | $50,070 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $49,707 |
| Journalism | $49,445 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $48,798 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $48,064 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $47,465 |
| History | $47,449 |
| Anthropology | $46,560 |
| Social Work | $46,494 |
| Chemistry | $46,490 |
| Psychology, General | $45,700 |
| Music | $45,321 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,293 |
| Sociology | $43,595 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $42,605 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,383 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $39,001 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $38,440 |
Median earnings for these 41 University of Memphis programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $48,458 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 10 additional University of Memphis programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Memphis?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 905–1205 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 72% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Memphis's acceptance rate?
93.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 14,605 admitted from 15,640 applicants.
How much does University of Memphis cost?
In-state tuition is $10,728; out-of-state students pay $15,384. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Memphis graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $48,458 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Middle Tennessee State University — 69.1% admitted
- Maryville College — 60.9% admitted
- Lincoln Memorial University — 62.6% admitted
- Lee University — 70.5% 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.