The University of Tennessee is on the rise and there has never been a better time to be a Vol! UT received a total of 52,303 applications by the November 1 Early Action application deadline for the Fall 2025 first-year class. This is an overall increase of 2,968 (6.0%) compared to November 1, 2023. There has also been a record number of applications now submitted by the Dec.16 Regular Admissions Deadline (total of 60,515).
UT received applications from all U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 92 countries, all 95 Tennessee counties and more than 467 high schools.
UT’s December admissions releases include the following notifications to students who completed applications by Early Action deadlines (Nov. 1 submission deadline and Nov. 15 completion deadline):
- Admitted: An offer of admission to join the Fall 2025 incoming first-year class.
- Deferral: An invitation to submit updated academic information (i.e., mid-year senior grades, new test scores) before UT’s second release in March.
- Denial: Applicants who fell significantly below admission standards were informed UT will not be able to offer first-year admission, thereby allowing them adequate time to make other college plans.
Due to another record number of applications and the academic quality of our applicant pool, UT will issue a significant number of deferrals during both the Tennessee and Out-of-State early action decision releases. Applicants who have been notified of a deferral decision will have the opportunity to tell us more about their academic journey before a final admission decision is made.
For the first time ever, UT offered an early-action decision release specifically for in-state students who applied for Fall 2025 admission, with decisions for in-state applicants that were released on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. ET. Out-of-state early-action applicants, along with transfer and international applicants, will receive their decisions on Tuesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. ET.
Applications Received
By UT’s Early Action Deadline (Nov. 1)
UT is experiencing record growth in undergraduate first-year applications and the most competitive applicant pool in our 230-year history. For Fall 2025 entry, UT received 52,303 applications by the November 1 Early Action deadline, a 6.0% increase and 2,968 more applications compared to November 2023.
Of applications received by UT’s November 1 Deadline:
- 23.1% were from in-state students (12,094).
- In-state applications increased by 5.2% over last year.
- 76.9% from out-of-state and international students (40,209).
- Out-of-state applications increased by 6.3% over last year.
By UT’s Regular Admissions Deadline (Dec. 16)
For Fall 2025 entry, UT received 60,515 applications by December 16 Regular Admissions deadline, a 5.7% increase and 3,247 more applications compared to December 2023.
Of applications received by UT’s December 16 Deadline:
- 22.6% were from in-state students (13,694).
- In-state applications increased by 5.5% over last year.
- 77.4% from out-of-state and international students (46,821).
- Out-of-state applications increased by 5.9% over last year.
Fall 2025 Class
As Tennessee’s land-grant and flagship university, UT is committed to serving the state by providing an accessible and affordable education to qualified Tennessee residents. Capacity considerations and delivering on the Volunteer experience for all students (new and continuing) remains a priority in building the Fall 2025 cohort.
Many students not admitted in the first and second admissions release will be invited to join a waitlist or participate in UT Pathway Programs following the second release on March 4, 2025.
Students who did not meet guaranteed admission requirements are reviewed holistically. Our holistic admissions review process takes into consideration a number of factors focused on academic success at UT, including but not limited to:
- Difficulty of senior-level coursework
- Academic preparedness and rigor of high school curriculum
- ACT/SAT test scores
- College and academic program interest & alignment with academic preparation
- Extracurricular, employment, or leadership activities and contributions
- Jobs and volunteer experience
- Awards
- Special talents or skills
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Essay
Guaranteed Admission Statistics
On June 25, 2024, the UT Board of Trustees approved an update to include a minimum ACT/SAT requirement in the In-state Guaranteed Admission Policy applicable to students applying for admission to UT Knoxville. This policy, first approved in 2023 for Fall 2024 entry, continues to expand access to a college degree for Tennesseans in efforts to retain the state’s best and brightest students. In addition, UT Knoxville is proud to offer more than 90% of our in-state applicants a pathway to enroll at UT through first-year admission and guaranteed transfer pathways.
- 5,740 in-state students met Guaranteed Admission criteria.
- Applications from 95 Tennessee counties, 374 Tennessee high schools
- 27–33 Mid 50% Self-Reported Composite ACT (1280-1465 SAT Equivalent)
- 4.24–4.54 Mid 50% UT Core Weighted GPA
Early Action Admitted Overview
*Includes both early action releases: Tennessee release (Dec.4) and Out-of-State release (Dec. 17)
- Admitted | 21,945
- In-state | 7,806
- Out-of-state | 14,017
- International | 122
27-32 Mid 50% Self-Reported Composite ACT (1275–1430 SAT Equivalent)
- TN | 26-32
- OOS | 28–32
- International | 27-33
4.07-4.50 Mid 50% UT Core Weighted GPA
- TN | 4.04–4.50
- OOS | 4.10–4.50
- International | 3.90-4.32
Frequently Asked Questions
What decisions are being made in this release?
UT released admit, deferred and denied decisions in this release for Tennessee applicants who met UT’s Early Action Deadlines. We do not have a waitlist at this time. A waitlist will likely be announced during the regular decision release on Tuesday, March 4.
More information about our decisions can be found here.
What does it mean to be deferred?
A deferred decision is not a final or denial decision. An applicant whose decision is deferred to the regular decision release remains under consideration for admission and can expect to receive an admissions decision on Tuesday, March 4.
We’ve listed a few ways to update and strengthen your application here.
What does it mean to be denied?
Applicants with a denied decision are not offered admission to UT. Applicants denied admission are strongly encouraged to consider a transfer pathway at a later date. More information about transfer admissions can be found at transfer.utk.edu.
Applicants who will be graduating from a designated Flagship high school who were denied first-year admission can still use their Flagship Scholarship as a transfer student at a later date. Transfer students who qualify as Tennessee residents are also eligible for UT Promise and UT Pledge scholarships. You can learn more about transfer student scholarships on our One Stop site.
What is a Pathway Program?
Following our regular release on March 4, 2025, many applicants not admitted in the first and second admissions release will be invited to participate in UT Pathway Programs. These invitation-only programs are an opportunity for prospective students to find their path to join our Volunteer family.
- Verto Vols: Students have the opportunity to study abroad with other first-year students before starting classes on Rocky Top.
- UT Access Collaborative: Select applicants can enroll as first-year students at either UT Chattanooga, UT Martin, or UT Southern and transfer to UT Knoxville the following academic year.
- Rocky Top Transfer: Select applicants can complete their first year at Pellissippi State Community College by taking classes either in-person or online and transfer to UT Knoxville the following academic year.