Admission requirements
First-Year Students
We’re excited you want to join the Volunteer family! We are here to help every step of the way and can’t wait to review your application for admission.
First Year
Important Dates
Nov. 1
Early Action Admission Application Deadline
Nov. 15
Early Action Admission Application Completion Deadline
Dec. 16
Regular Admission Application Deadline
Jan. 17
Regular Admission Application Completion Deadline
Full List of First-Year Deadlines
Decision Release Dates: Tennessee Early Action will be released the evening of December 4. Out-of-State Early Action will be released the evening of December 17. Regular Decision will be released the evening of March 4.
Application Checklist
You will need the following items in order to complete your application:
Required
- Go Vols Application or the Common Application
- Completed Self-Reported Academic Record
- Standardized test scores
- One required essay—choose one of seven prompts
- The First-Year Application fee is $75 and is nonrefundable. US Citizens and Permanent Residents may request a fee waiver. Documentation will be required to support the fee waiver request. Acceptable documentation includes one of the following:
- Complete the UTK application fee waiver form (submitted by school official)
- Submit an application through Common App and qualify for one of the automatic fee waivers (school official will list eligibility)
- Students may submit a copy of their College Board’s College Application Fee Waiver
- Students may submit a copy of their approved ACT Fee Waiver
- Submit a copy of the NACAC Application fee Waiver (signed by a designated school official)
*What is the difference between a submitted and completed application?
All students need to do to meet the November 1 or December 16 application submission deadlines is submit either a Go Vols application or the Common Application.
For students to have a completed application on file by the November 15 or January 17 completion deadlines, students must also
- Complete a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) by:
- Self-reporting high school grades
- Uploading an unofficial high school transcript to the SRAR
- Self-report standardized test scores, which you can do in the GPA & Tests tab of your Go Vols Portal
App fee waivers can be e-mailed to utkapplications@utk.edu. Once submitted, processing could take 24-72 hours before it is reflected on a student’s Go Vols account.
Common Application Process at UT
Optional
- Recommendation letters (academic, professional, or personal)
- Supporting statement
Additional Application Requirements for Certain Programs
Admissions Dates for First-Year Students
Fall/Summer Entry
| November 1 | Early Action Admission Application Deadline |
| November 15 | Early Action Admission Application Completion Deadline |
| December 4 | Tennessee Early Action Release Date |
| December 16 | Regular Admission Application Deadline |
| December 17 | Out-of-State Early Action Release Date |
| January 17 | Regular Admission Application Completion Deadline |
| March 4 | Regular Decision Release Date |
Spring Entry
| December 15 | Early Action Admission Deadline |
Application Review
UT has a competitive but holistic admissions process. We consider your experience and preparation in academic areas as well as other factors including:
- Difficulty of senior-level coursework
- ACT/SAT Test Scores
- College and academic program
- Rigor of your high school curriculum
- Extracurricular or leadership activities
- Job and volunteer experience
- Awards
- Special talents or skills
- Optional supporting statement
Optional Supporting Statement
A supporting statement can provide crucial information to aid the admissions staff in reviewing your application. The prompt for the optional supporting statement is “If applicable, please share any circumstance(s) that would have had an adverse impact on your academic performance.”
AP, CLEP, IB, Cambridge, and Statewide Dual Credit
Good scores on college placement exams are not required for admission to UT. However, they can earn you college credit and provide a head start on your academic career. Review the credit webpage often as there are frequent changes to these credits.
Application Requirements for Specific Programs
Some of our programs require more than an application to UT. Learn more below about program specific requirements.
College of Architecture and Design
A portfolio of your artwork is not required but is recommended. Admission decisions are made holistically by faculty of the School of Architecture or School of Interior Architecture.
Natalie L. Haslam College of Music
Depending on the concentration you choose, you may be required to audition and/or interview. Additional information is available from the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music.
College of Nursing
Students applying for admission in the College of Nursing are required to include standardized test scores as part of their application.
The College of Nursing takes into consideration a wide range of factors when making admission decisions. Beginning with the fall 2024 freshmen direct admit pathway, we require students to complete the Holistic Admissions Questionnaire to be considered for admission into our Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Admissions criteria is based on several performance criteria, including completion of core academic subjects, GPA scores on these subjects, and standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores.
Pre-Pharmacy Direct Admit Program
The required minimum weighted core GPA is a 3.5 and an ACT of 25 (or SAT ERW+M of 1220). Applicants are offered admission to the Pre-Pharmacy Direct Admit Program based on holistic evaluation by the faculty and staff of the UT College of Pharmacy. Other pre-pharmacy applicants are admitted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions based on standard UT admission requirements.
Tickle College of Engineering
Admissions criteria is based on several performance criteria, including completion of core academic subjects, GPA scores on these subjects, and standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores. Students who may not meet the test-score criteria will be holistically reviewed for admission into TCE.
We will calculate a Success Prediction Indicator (SPI). For consideration in the Tickle College of Engineering, your minimum SPI predictor should be at least 60 and a math ACT of 25 or a math SAT of 590. The admitted class may also be limited by space available in the college. The SPI is calculated by adding an individual’s ACT mathematics score to 10 times their core high school GPA (based on a 4.0 scale). For information about what core high school courses are selected to calculate your core GPA, please refer to this list.
SPI EXAMPLE: A student with a high school core GPA of 3.5 and an ACT mathematics score of 28 would have an SPI of 63 using the formula (3.5 X 10) + 28 = 63. SAT scores are converted to an equivalent ACT score to perform this calculation.
Students who wish to pursue an engineering degree at UT but do not meet the college admission criterion may enroll as University Exploratory students and complete appropriate mathematics, science, and other courses before applying again for admission to the college.
Holistic Review
Students who may not meet the test-score criteria will be holistically reviewed for admission into TCE.
Transferring to TCE
Students initially denied admission to the TCE may follow the TCE Internal Transfer Admissions policy and process as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog:
Transfer students, including internal UT transfers, must meet the minimum requirements stated below to be considered for admission to a major within the college. These minimum standards for consideration do not guarantee being admitted to the major. The final admission decision for the major resides with the department head or designee.
- Must have earned a minimum 2.8 cumulative average and a C or better in each of these specific courses, or their equivalent: ENGL 101*, CHEM 120* (for Computer Science students: COSC 102 and COSC 130 or equivalents), and MATH 132* or MATH 141* (and subsequent courses in the three sequences, if taken).
- If the student has completed any physics course, he/she must have earned a grade of C or better.
- The overall record will be evaluated for quality and seriousness of purpose. An excessive number of withdrawals, incompletes, repeated courses, or failures may result in denial.
Any UT student desiring association with one of the departments in the Tickle College of Engineering should go to the Engineering Advising Office. An advising session is held with the major items of consideration being the same as for external transfer students.
If external transfer students are denied admission to the Tickle College of Engineering, the student must contact Undergraduate Admissions to declare a new major for admission to UT.
“I definitely think students find their place here at UT because there are so many opportunities. There’s a place for everyone.”
Liam Gecsey
Chicago, IL
Additional Admissions Requirements
Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR)
All first-year students are required to self-report high school grades and standardized ACT/SAT scores through the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) after submitting their application for admission. This allows us to review you for admission sooner! We won’t need your final, official documents until after you confirm enrollment.
Test Score Policy
UT requires all first-year applicants to submit ACT/SAT scores as part of their application for admission.
Prior Learning Credits
Did you know that you could already have college credit? Good scores on college placement exams are not required for admission to UT—but they can earn you college credit and a head start on your academic career!
Core GPA
UT calculates a weighted core GPA based on your grades in the courses listed below. Completion of all sixteen core courses is not required for admission but strongly encouraged.
In the core academic subjects, your GPA will be weighted by UT to reflect honors courses (0.5 quality points added), Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge AS and A Level, International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment courses (1.0 quality points added). UT calculates your GPA on a 4-point scale. UT will use unweighted high school course grades as the basis for adding these weightings for the UT core GPA calculation. If you attend a high school that does not weight courses, UT will also not weight them. However, the academic rigor of your curriculum is important and will be valued by our admissions review team.
Core Academic Subjects
- 4 English
- 4 Math (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, or other advanced math)
- 3 Science (biology, chemistry, physics, or other science)
- 1 American history
- 1 European history, world history, or world geography
- 2 Single foreign language (or ASL)
- 1 Visual or performing arts
Please see the State of Tennessee’s Department of Education website for graduation requirements.
First-Year Admissions FAQs
We understand applying for admission can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help you along the way.
Can I apply to UT through the Common App?
Yes! Once you’ve created your account, you will search for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in the College Search tab within CommonApp.
What is holistic review?
UT has a competitive but holistic admissions process. We consider your experience and preparation in academic areas as well as other factors including:
- Rigor of your high school curriculum
- Difficulty of senior-level coursework
- College and academic program
- Extracurricular or leadership activities
- Job and volunteer experience
- Awards
- Special talents or skills
- ACT/SAT Test Scores
- Optional supporting statement
How do I complete my application?
Students are required to submit supplemental materials in addition to their application, including a completed Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) and standardized test scores. UT provides a list of missing items in applicants’ Go Vols Portal. To have a completed application and be eligible for review, UT needs items listed in the missing items checklist.
Ready to Apply?
We can’t wait to review your application for admission! Create a Go Vols account to start your application, or choose the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on your Common Application!
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Find My Counselor
Your admissions counselor will be with you every step of the way on your journey to Rocky Top! They’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have and help you through the application process.
Application Status
After you submit your application, check your status by logging into your Go Vols Portal. Check your portal often to review your missing items checklist and upload required documents we need in order to make an admissions decision.
You will receive an email instructing you to check your Go Vols Portal once we’ve made an admissions decision!
Questions? Here to Help!
