Centre College vs. Tennessee

Should I go to Centre College or The University of Tennessee? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Centre College or Tennessee is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Auburn Alabama Kentucky Clemson Ole Miss UofSC Florida State ASU IU JMU Georgia Rhodes College
Centre College vs. The University of Tennessee comparison
Centre College The University of Tennessee College 3 College 4
Centre College The University of Tennessee
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Centre College Tennessee
Location Danville, KY Knoxville, TN
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,356 36,304
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #151 #222
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centre.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Centre College Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $50,250 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $50,250 $29,522
Room & Board $13,770 $12,500
Avg Net Price $23,780 $20,885
Avg Grant Aid $39,597 $11,491
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 85%

Admission

Centre College Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,226 50,488
Admitted 1,753 23,221
Acceptance Rate 54.3% 46%
Enrolled % 20.6% 28.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.62 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/32 25/31
SAT Range 1230/1423 1190/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Centre College Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (22%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • History (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Centre College Tennessee
Graduation Rate 82% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,500 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $206

Diversity

Centre College Tennessee
% Men 0% 9%
% Women 1% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 79%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Centre College Tennessee
% In-State 54% 58%
% Out-of-State 40% 41%

Campus

Centre College Tennessee
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee is larger than than Centre College based on total student enrollment (36,304 students vs. 1,356 students)

Centre College vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centre College or Tennessee?

  • Centre College is 343.4% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($50,250.00 vs. $11,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 70.2% higher at Centre College than The University of Tennessee ($50,250.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Centre College ($20,885 vs. $23,780)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 10.2% lower than costs at Centre College ($12,500 vs. $13,770)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centre College than The University of Tennessee (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Centre College students is 244.6% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($39,597 vs. $11,491)

Centre College vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centre College or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or Centre College .

  • The average SAT score at Centre College (1279) is 65 points higher than at Tennessee (1214)
  • Incoming Centre College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Tennessee (27)
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Centre College (3.62)
  • Centre College has a higher acceptance rate (54.3%) than Tennessee (46%)

Centre College vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Centre College or Tennessee? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Tennessee and Centre College.

  • The graduation rate at Centre College is higher than The University of Tennessee (82% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $3,800 more per year than Centre College graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $52,500)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Centre College graduates. ($20,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Centre College graduates. ($206 vs. $279)
  • More Centre College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/