The University of Alabama vs. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Tennessee climbs a hill above the Tennessee River in Knoxville, the Great Smokies filling the horizon behind Ayres Hall, and that flagship pride shows up in admissions: it fills most of each class with residents and admits a far smaller slice of its applicants than Alabama does. It also brought back an SAT-or-ACT requirement after several test-optional years, so plan to send scores. Alabama runs the looser door. Out-of-state students fill much of its class, the process stays test-optional and rolling with a December priority date, and the fraternity and sorority scene sprawls across the Quad past Denny Chimes. Both schools are big public research flagships where business and marketing draws the largest crowd, so what you can study barely separates them. Money cuts the other way for each: Alabama hands strong records automatic merit awards that soften its out-of-state price, while Tennessee's HOPE lottery scholarship keeps things cheap if you grew up in the state. Knock on either door knowing which one you fit, residency and Greek life and all.
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Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
Alabama does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Alabama is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Alabama's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 37.5% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Alabama does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Alabama weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Alabama's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $22,858 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admitted~1.9× higher admit rate for in-state applicants.
Early Action
University of Tennessee offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
University of Tennessee requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where University of Tennessee's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 22% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. University of Tennessee does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How University of Tennessee weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from University of Tennessee's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $19,144 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Alabama vs. University of Tennessee: frequently asked questions
Is it harder to get into Alabama or Tennessee?＋
Tennessee is the tougher admit, taking about 43.6% of applicants against roughly 71% at Alabama. Its enrolled first-years average a 4.25 weighted high school GPA next to about 3.85 at Alabama, and its middle-50% SAT of 1280–1380 clears Alabama's 1100–1360. One catch for non-residents: Tennessee fills most of its class in-state (only about 39% of undergrads come from out of state), so out-of-state seats are scarcer than at Alabama, where 57% arrive from out of state.
Does Alabama or Tennessee require the SAT or ACT?＋
Tennessee requires a score; Alabama does not. After several test-optional years, the University of Tennessee once again asks first-year applicants to send SAT or ACT results, and its enrolled students landed a middle-50% SAT of 1280–1380 and ACT of 26–31. Alabama keeps its test-optional policy, with a wider middle-50% SAT of 1100–1360 and ACT of 22–31, and strong scores there can trigger automatic merit aid.
Is Alabama or Tennessee cheaper for out-of-state students?＋
On sticker price, Tennessee edges it out for non-residents at about $32,956 in tuition and fees versus roughly $35,342 at Alabama, but aid reshuffles the math. Alabama meets a higher share of demonstrated need (63% versus 59% at Tennessee) and writes larger need-based packages, near $19,857 against about $15,787 at Tennessee. Alabama also hands out automatic merit scholarships that draw out-of-state students in and shrink its higher list price, so weigh the net offers, not the sticker.
Which is cheaper for in-state students, Alabama or Tennessee?＋
Alabama runs a bit cheaper for residents, charging around $12,484 in in-state tuition and fees against about $13,812 at Tennessee. Tennessee closes some of that gap for qualifying residents through the state's HOPE lottery scholarship, which trims tuition further. Either way, residents pay far less than out-of-state students at both, where costs roughly triple.
Does Alabama or Tennessee have more Greek life?＋
Alabama wins on Greek presence, and not by a little. About 30% of men pledge fraternities and 44% of women pledge sororities at Alabama, compared with roughly 19% of men and 36% of women at Tennessee. Both are large public flagships with lively social scenes, but Greek life carries more weight in day-to-day student life at Alabama.
Is Alabama or Tennessee better for engineering?＋
Call it close, with a slight structural lean toward Tennessee by degree share. Engineering makes up about 9% of bachelor's degrees at Tennessee against roughly 7% at Alabama, while business and marketing tops the list at both around 30%. Since neither runs as an engineering-first school, an applicant should dig into the specific program and overall fit instead of assuming one is the clear STEM pick.
Source: The University of Alabama Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Alabama. Banner photo by Carol M. Highsmith, via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).
Source: University of Tennessee, Knoxville Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. In-State Cost and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with University of Tennessee. Banner photo by Bubbahotepblues, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).