Emory vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Emory 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.

Emory University
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emory Atlanta, GA
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • Emory Large Suburban
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emory 15,175
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • Emory Private 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emory #28
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emory United Methodist
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • Emory Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emory
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emory $64,280
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • Emory $20,220
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • Emory $27,303
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emory $56,319
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emory 47%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emory 33,450
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • Emory 3,562
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emory 10.6%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Emory 40.4%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emory 1510
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emory 33
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emory 3.8
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emory A-
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emory Elite
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emory Very High
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Emory 32/35
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Emory 1470/1550
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emory Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Emory Jan 1, 2027
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emory 10:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emory
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emory 90%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emory $81,500
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emory 80%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emory $17,233
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emory $178
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emory 36%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • Emory 64%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emory Very High
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • Emory No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • Emory 41%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • Emory 19%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • Emory 9%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emory 8%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Emory 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emory 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emory 3%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • Emory 17%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emory 3%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emory 15%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emory 64%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emory University in Atlanta, GA with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is larger than Emory based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 15,175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emory University is located in Atlanta, GA (Large Suburban setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Emory University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emory University 10:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Emory vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emory 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 The University of Tennessee Knoxville than Emory ($21,648 vs. $27,303).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 33.9% lower than at Emory University ($13,356 vs. $20,220).
  • Emory University is 365.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $50,468 more per year; $64,280.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93.3% higher at Emory than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $31,024 more per year; $64,280.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Emory University (94% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emory University students is 392.6% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($56,319 vs. $11,434).

Emory vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emory 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 Emory.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emory University (1510) is 220 points higher than at Tennessee (1290).
  • Incoming Emory students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Tennessee).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emory University 1470/1550; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emory University 32/35; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emory - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emory Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emory students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • Tennessee has a higher acceptance rate (41.6%) than Emory (10.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.4% at Emory vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Emory vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emory 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).

  • Emory University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from Emory University earn a median of about $25,200 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,500 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emory University graduates have a $2,767 lower median loan debt than Tennessee graduates ($17,233 vs. $20,000).
  • Among borrowers, Emory graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tennessee graduates ($178 vs. $206).
  • More Emory graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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.