The University of Tennessee has recorded five consecutive years of record enrollments defying the trend of declining national college enrollment. The official results were revealed at the UT Board of Trustees Executive Committee meeting.
Four campuses reported extraordinary increases with the flagship campus in Knoxville reporting a 6.7% increase in enrollment (38,728 students enrolled) and UT Southern, the newest campus in the university system, achieving an extraordinary 7% increase in enrollment (1,046 enrolled). Since joining the UT System in 2021, UT Southern enrollment has grown 19.4%.
UT Martin saw an 8% increase (7,499 students enrolled), while UT Chattanooga saw growth of 4% (11,834 students enrolled).
Retention rates are also on the rise, with UT Knoxville leading the way with a record-breaking 91.9%. UT Southern reported a retention rate of 77.2%, while UT Martin is at 77%. UT Chattanooga’s retention rate stands at 71.9%.
“These numbers are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff, who continue to deliver an exceptional education that attracts students from all over,” UT System President Randy Boyd said.
This enrollment surge across the UT System not only reflects the institution’s growing reputation but also underscores the effectiveness of strategic initiatives aimed at increasing access and affordability. This includes initiatives such as guaranteed admissions for top-performing Tennessee high school students, so that students and families can plan their college experience with greater confidence and certainty.
Additionally, through the UT Promise undergraduate scholarship program, more than two-thirds of Tennessee high school seniors can qualify to attend any UT campus free of tuition and mandatory fees.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 100 institutions of higher education closed between the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years.
“As we continue building the greatest decade in UT history, our enrollment growth, despite the challenges facing higher education nationwide, reflects our strong commitment to making a difference in the lives of our students and the communities we serve,” Boyd said.
The University of Tennessee is a statewide system of higher education with campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis; the UT Institute of Agriculture with a presence in every Tennessee county; and the statewide Institute for Public Service. The UT System manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory through its UT-Battelle partnership; enrolls about 58,000 students statewide; produces about 13,000 new graduates every year; and represents more than 445,000 alumni around the world.
