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Penn State JMU NC State Auburn Alabama Purdue Kentucky Clemson UofSC UVA Mason Maryland| The University of Tennessee | Virginia Tech | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
| Location | Knoxville, TN | Blacksburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,304 | 38,294 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #222 | #145 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | tennessee.edu | vt.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,332 | $12,698 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,522 | $33,310 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,500 | $14,888 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,885 | $22,205 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,491 | $8,542 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 85% | 55% |
Admission |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 50,488 | 47,208 | ||
| Admitted | 23,221 | 26,923 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 46% | 57% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.8% | 26.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.66 | 3.97 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1340 | 1240/1420 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,300 | $65,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,000 | $23,966 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $206 | $247 |
Diversity |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 3% |
Students |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 33% | ||
Campus |
Tennessee | Virginia Tech | ||
| 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
- Virginia Tech is larger than than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (38,294 students vs. 36,304 students)
Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Tennessee or Virginia Tech?
- Virginia Tech is 12.1% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($12,698.00 vs. $11,332.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at Virginia Tech than The University of Tennessee ($33,310.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Virginia Tech ($20,885 vs. $22,205)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 19.1% lower than costs at Virginia Tech ($12,500 vs. $14,888)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than Virginia Tech (85% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee students is 34.5% larger than aid received Virginia Tech ($11,491 vs. $8,542)
Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Tennessee or Virginia Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Virginia Tech or Tennessee .
- The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 4 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1210)
- Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
- Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (57%) than Tennessee (46%)
Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Tennessee or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
- The graduation rate at Virginia Tech is higher than The University of Tennessee (82% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Virginia Tech earn on average $8,700 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($65,000 vs. $56,300)
- The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $3,966 lower median federal student loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates. ($20,000 vs. $23,966)
- Tennessee graduates are paying $41 less per month on federal student loans than Virginia Tech graduates. ($206 vs. $247)
- More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/