University of Tennessee Sees Record Enrollment Across All Campuses

Knoxville TN, September 19, 2025

News Summary

The University of Tennessee has reached a record total of 64,866 enrolled students for Fall 2025, marking a 4.4% increase from the previous year. All five campuses of the university system experienced growth, reflecting the institution’s commitment to enhancing access to higher education. Key factors driving this growth include affordability, opportunity, and successful outcomes. The university aims to enroll 71,000 students by 2030, with significant improvements in campus facilities and financial aid initiatives to support this goal.

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE — University of Tennessee Achieves Record Enrollment of 64,866 Students for Fall 2025

All five University of Tennessee campuses posted enrollment increases for fall 2025, leading to an overall total of 64,866 students, a 4.4% increase from fall 2024 and a significant 20.2% gain over the past five years. This marks the sixth consecutive year of record growth across the UT System, highlighting the institution’s commitment to expanding access to higher education.

The UT System is ambitiously targeting a goal of 71,000 students by 2030. UT System President Randy Boyd emphasized three main factors driving this enrollment growth: affordability, opportunity, and outcomes.

Campus-Specific Enrollment Data

• UT Knoxville: Total enrollment reached 40,421 students, marking a 4.4% increase. The first-year retention rate improved to 92.4%, up from 91.9%. The campus welcomed more than 1,700 new transfer students, with over 1,100 coming from in-state. Moreover, the four-year graduation rate hit 67%, a record high, reflecting a 5.4% increase.
• UT Chattanooga: Enrollment rose to 12,060 students, an increase of 2.4%. The first-year retention rate climbed to 73.4% from 71.9%. The campus saw 733 new transfer students, representing a 4.7% growth, and there are 1,664 graduate students, a 6% increase.
• UT Southern: Enrollment reached 1,132 students, a significant 8.2% increase. The first-year retention rate stood at 76.6%, slightly down from 77.2%. The campus welcomed 163 transfer students, up 44.2%, with 41 graduate students, an increase of 20.6%.
• UT Martin: Total enrollment increased to 8,096 students, an 8% rise. The first-year retention rate fell to 75.2% from 77.0%. The campus had 385 transfer students, showing minimal growth of 0.3%, while the graduate student count grew to 708, a 2.6% increase.
• UT Health Science Center: Total enrollment increased to 3,157 students, a 1.8% rise. The new student enrollment reached 1,023, which marks a 3% increase over fall 2024, and the retention rate remains exceptionally high at 95%.

First-Year Class Details

UT Knoxville welcomed a first-year class of over 7,100 new students, selected from nearly 63,000 applications, a 5.1% increase from the previous year. Notably, 60% of incoming first-year students hail from Tennessee, and the new class consists of students from every Tennessee county, as well as 46 states, the D.C. area, and 33 countries.

Financial Considerations and Campus Improvements

The UT System is also focused on affordability, with 94% of the new first-year class receiving scholarships or financial aid. Almost 95% of in-state first-year applicants received scholarship offers through various programs. Additionally, the new UT Promise scholarship now covers tuition and mandatory fees, and includes mentorship and career support for eligible Tennessee residents. Importantly, UT Knoxville has not raised tuition for in-state students this year, while other campuses set increases between 2-3%.

Physical enhancements across the campuses also support the growing enrollment, including two new residence halls—Poplar and Beacon—adding 1,959 beds for students. Renovations to dining spaces and the introduction of a new route in the T Transit System are also notable improvements, with the Cumberland Food Hall expected to open later this year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Key Features of Fall 2025 Enrollment

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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Additional Resources

• WATE: University of Tennessee Begins 2025 Fall Semester with Record Enrollment
• Knox News: University of Tennessee Breaks Enrollment Record with 40,000 Students
• WBIR: University of Tennessee Record Enrollment Fall 2025
• The Center Square: University of Tennessee Sets New Enrollment Record
• Wikipedia: University of Tennessee

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