Xavier vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Xavier 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.

Xavier University
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Xavier Cincinnati, OH
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • Xavier Large City
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Xavier 5,501
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • Xavier Private 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Xavier #269
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Xavier Roman Catholic
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • Xavier Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Xavier
  • Tennessee
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Xavier $50,640
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Xavier $50,640
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • Xavier $13,920
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • Xavier $33,623
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Xavier $32,088
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Xavier 100%
  • Tennessee 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Xavier 14,631
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • Xavier 12,642
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Xavier 86.4%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Xavier 7.3%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Xavier 1210
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Xavier 25
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Xavier 3.68
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Xavier B+
  • Tennessee B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Xavier Challenging
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Xavier
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Xavier 22/29
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Xavier 1103/1310
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Xavier Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Tennessee Required to be considered for admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Xavier
  • Tennessee
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Xavier 10:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Xavier
    • Business (28%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Xavier 77%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Xavier $54,500
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Xavier 72%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Xavier $27,000
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Xavier $279
  • Tennessee $206
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Xavier 33%
  • Tennessee 44%
  • % Women
  • Xavier 67%
  • Tennessee 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Xavier Low
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • Xavier No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • Xavier 72%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • Xavier 3%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • Xavier 10%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Xavier 5%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Xavier 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Xavier 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Xavier 4%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • Xavier 2%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Xavier 5%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Xavier 45%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Xavier 53%
  • Tennessee 35%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH 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 Xavier based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 5,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Xavier University is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Xavier 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: Xavier University 10:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Xavier vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Xavier 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 Xavier ($21,648 vs. $33,623).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 4.1% lower than at Xavier University ($13,356 vs. $13,920).
  • Xavier University is 266.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $36,828 more per year; $50,640.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.3% higher at Xavier than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $17,384 more per year; $50,640.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Xavier University than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Xavier University students is 180.6% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($32,088 vs. $11,434).

Xavier vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Xavier 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 Xavier.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 80 points higher than at Xavier (1210).
  • Incoming Tennessee students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Xavier).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Xavier University 1103/1310; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Xavier University 22/29; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Xavier - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Tennessee - Required to be considered for admission.
  • Accepted freshman Xavier students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Tennessee (3.66).
  • Xavier has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.3% at Xavier vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Xavier vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Xavier 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).

  • Xavier University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Xavier graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $54,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Xavier graduates ($20,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Xavier graduates ($206 vs. $279).
  • More Xavier 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.