Tennessee Wesleyan University vs. UTC

Comparable Facts

Compare Tennessee Wesleyan University in Athens, TN with The University of Tennessee Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is larger than Tennessee Wesleyan University based on total student enrollment (11,775 students vs. 1,198 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Tennessee Wesleyan University is located in Athens, TN (Distant Town setting); The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is in Chattanooga, TN (Midsize City setting).
• Tennessee Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Tennessee Wesleyan University 12:1; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 18:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tennessee Wesleyan University are 25% lower than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga ($9,458 vs. $12,604).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.5% higher at Tennessee Wesleyan University than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (about $12,302 more per year; $30,814 vs. $18,512).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tennessee Wesleyan University than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tennessee Wesleyan University students is 146% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Chattanooga students ($24,692 vs. $10,038).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at UTC than at Tennessee Wesleyan University (23 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Tennessee Wesleyan University, required at UTC.
• Typical fall application deadline: UTC May 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at UTC average a 3.61 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at Tennessee Wesleyan University (3.5).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.3% at Tennessee Wesleyan University vs. 29.2% at UTC.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates have a $2,042 lower median loan debt than UTC graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,792).
• Among borrowers, Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UTC graduates ($193 vs. $214).
• More Tennessee Wesleyan University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTC students, three years after graduation (61% vs. 56%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.