ASU vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Arizona State University and The University of Tennessee Knoxville? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU B+
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 56%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • ASU 44%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • Tennessee Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • Tennessee No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • Tennessee Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • Tennessee No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • Tennessee No

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 38,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

ASU vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU 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 Arizona State University than Tennessee ($17,779 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 20.1% lower than at Arizona State University ($13,356 vs. $16,712).
  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is 13% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $1,589 more per year; $13,812.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Tennessee than at Arizona State University (about $117 more per year; $33,256.00 vs. $33,139.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Arizona State University (94% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 6.5% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($12,172 vs. $11,434).

ASU vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU 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 ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 80 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

ASU vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU 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).

  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $278 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($20,000 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($206 vs. $209).
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.