IU vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 38,728 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington 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: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

IU vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Tennessee ($17,270 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 4.5% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($13,356 vs. $13,984).
  • The University of Tennessee Knoxville is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $1,668 more per year; $13,812.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26% higher at IU than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $8,635 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Indiana University Bloomington (94% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students is 9% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($11,434 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is the same as at Tennessee (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Tennessee).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

IU vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $100 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($20,000 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($206 vs. $232).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.