UIC vs. Tennessee

Deciding between University of Illinois Chicago 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 Illinois Chicago
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIC Chicago, IL
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • UIC Large City
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UIC 33,906
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • UIC Public 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIC #215
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIC -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • UIC Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIC
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIC $14,338
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIC $29,884
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • UIC $16,500
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • UIC $10,852
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIC $16,755
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIC 74%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIC 27,085
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • UIC 20,951
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIC 77.4%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UIC 21.1%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIC 1240
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIC 28
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIC 3.41
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIC B+
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIC Difficult
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIC
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • UIC 25/31
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UIC 1130/1350
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIC Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • UIC Feb 1, 2027
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIC 17:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIC
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIC 54%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIC $61,900
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIC 68%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIC $18,750
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIC $193
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIC 40%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • UIC 60%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIC Very High
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • UIC No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • UIC 34%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • UIC 22%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • UIC 8%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIC 28%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • UIC 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIC 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIC 3%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • UIC 2%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIC 2%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIC 89%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIC 4%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Chicago in Chicago, IL 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 UIC based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 33,906 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Illinois Chicago 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 Illinois Chicago 17:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

UIC vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIC 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 Illinois Chicago than Tennessee ($10,852 vs. $21,648).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 19.1% lower than at University of Illinois Chicago ($13,356 vs. $16,500).
  • University of Illinois Chicago is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $526 more per year; $14,338.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.3% higher at Tennessee than at University of Illinois Chicago (about $3,372 more per year; $33,256.00 vs. $29,884.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at University of Illinois Chicago (94% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Illinois Chicago students is 46.5% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($16,755 vs. $11,434).

UIC vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIC 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 UIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 50 points higher than at UIC (1240).
  • Incoming UIC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Tennessee (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 1130/1350; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Chicago 25/31; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIC - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UIC Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at UIC (3.41).
  • UIC has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at UIC vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

UIC vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIC 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 University of Illinois Chicago's (54%).
  • Graduates from University of Illinois Chicago earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Tennessee graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Illinois Chicago graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Tennessee graduates ($18,750 vs. $20,000).
  • Among borrowers, UIC graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tennessee graduates ($193 vs. $206).
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.