UD vs. Tennessee

Deciding between University of Delaware 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.

University of Delaware
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A-
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 46%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • UD 54%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE 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 UD based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 24,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Delaware 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: University of Delaware 16:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

UD vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 University of Delaware than Tennessee ($19,139 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 13.2% lower than at University of Delaware ($13,356 vs. $15,386).
  • University of Delaware is 21.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $2,998 more per year; $16,810.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.5% higher at UD than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $8,144 more per year; $41,400.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at University of Delaware (94% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Delaware students is 16.3% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($13,302 vs. $11,434).

UD vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 10 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming UD 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: University of Delaware 1190/1370; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

UD vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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).

  • University of Delaware's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from University of Delaware earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,300 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $4,203 lower median loan debt than UD graduates ($20,000 vs. $24,203).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UD graduates ($206 vs. $250).
  • More UD 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.