Rhodes College vs. Tennessee

Should I go to Rhodes College or The University of Tennessee? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rhodes 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.

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Rhodes College vs. The University of Tennessee comparison
Rhodes College The University of Tennessee College 3 College 4
Rhodes College The University of Tennessee
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Overview

Rhodes College Tennessee
Location Memphis, TN Knoxville, TN
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,952 36,304
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #136 #222
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rhodes.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rhodes College Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $54,082 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $54,082 $29,522
Room & Board $12,910 $12,500
Avg Net Price $30,590 $20,885
Avg Grant Aid $37,543 $11,491
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 85%

Admission

Rhodes College Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,025 50,488
Admitted 2,993 23,221
Acceptance Rate 49.7% 46%
Enrolled % 16.1% 28.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.99 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 25/31
SAT Range 1290/1490 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

Rhodes College Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Rhodes College Tennessee
Graduation Rate 75% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,400 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,217 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $271 $206

Diversity

Rhodes College Tennessee
% Men 0% 9%
% Women 0% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 79%
% Black 6% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Rhodes College Tennessee
% In-State 36% 58%
% Out-of-State 59% 41%

Campus

Rhodes 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 Rhodes College based on total student enrollment (36,304 students vs. 1,952 students)

Rhodes College vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rhodes College or Tennessee?

  • Rhodes College is 377.3% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($54,082.00 vs. $11,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.2% higher at Rhodes College than The University of Tennessee ($54,082.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Rhodes College ($20,885 vs. $30,590)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 3.3% lower than costs at Rhodes College ($12,500 vs. $12,910)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rhodes College than The University of Tennessee (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhodes College students is 226.7% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($37,543 vs. $11,491)

Rhodes College vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhodes College (1306) is 92 points higher than at Tennessee (1214)
  • Incoming Rhodes College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Tennessee (27)
  • Accepted freshman Rhodes College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • Rhodes College has a higher acceptance rate (49.7%) than Tennessee (46%)

Rhodes College vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rhodes 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 Rhodes College.

  • The graduation rate at Rhodes College is higher than The University of Tennessee (75% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Rhodes College earn on average $3,100 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($59,400 vs. $56,300)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $6,217 lower median federal student loan debt than Rhodes College graduates. ($20,000 vs. $26,217)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $65 less per month on federal student loans than Rhodes College graduates. ($206 vs. $271)
  • More Rhodes 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/