Spelman vs. Tennessee

Comparable Facts

Compare Spelman College in Atlanta, GA with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Spelman College is located in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
• Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Spelman College 11:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Spelman vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Spelman or Tennessee? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than Spelman ($21,648 vs. $40,354).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 26.2% lower than at Spelman College ($13,356 vs. $18,091).
• Spelman College is 128.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $17,744 more per year; $31,556.00 vs. $13,812.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Tennessee than at Spelman College (about $1,700 more per year; $33,256.00 vs. $31,556.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spelman College than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (96% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($11,434 vs. $10,614).

Spelman vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Spelman or Tennessee? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Tennessee and Spelman.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 80 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
• Incoming Tennessee students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Spelman).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 1108/1320; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Spelman College 22/29; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Spelman - Test optional; Tennessee - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
• Tennessee has a higher acceptance rate (41.6%) than Spelman (24.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.6% at Spelman vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Spelman vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Spelman and Tennessee? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Spelman College's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
• Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($20,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($206 vs. $279).
• More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.