KU vs. Tennessee

Should I go to University of Kansas or The University of Tennessee? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KU 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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University of Kansas vs. The University of Tennessee comparison
University of Kansas The University of Tennessee College 3 College 4
University of Kansas The University of Tennessee
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Overview

KU Tennessee
Location Lawrence, KS Knoxville, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 26,708 33,805
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #232
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

KU Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $29,522
Room & Board $10,136 $12,150
Avg Net Price $18,950 $21,880
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $10,593
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 88%

Admission

KU Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 36,290
Admitted 14,234 24,826
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 68.4%
Enrolled % 31.3% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.66
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1090/1340 1170/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

KU Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

KU Tennessee
Graduation Rate 61% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $206

Diversity

KU Tennessee
% Men 45% 45%
% Women 55% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 79%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

KU Tennessee
% In-State 58% 54%
% Out-of-State 39% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Tennessee is larger than than KU based on total student enrollment (33,805 students vs. 26,708 students)

KU vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or Tennessee?

  • The University of Tennessee is 12.3% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($11,332.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.5% higher at Tennessee than University of Kansas ($29,522.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Tennessee ($18,950 vs. $21,880)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 19.9% lower than costs at The University of Tennessee ($10,136 vs. $12,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than University of Kansas (88% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 5.2% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($11,140 vs. $10,593)

KU vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 69 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.66) as students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

KU vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU 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 KU.

  • The graduation rate at Tennessee is higher than University of Kansas (63% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $1,700 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $54,600)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than KU graduates. ($20,000 vs. $20,500)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than KU graduates. ($206 vs. $211)
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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