The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Public · Moderately Selective · TN

Photo: Johncw1959 (Public Domain)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationTN · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads10,074

Student:faculty18:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate34.9%

6-yr grad rate50.2%

Drop-out rate27.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$10k

Out-of-state tuition$19k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity26%

Gender diversity58.2%

International0.6%

Identity—

Overview

UTC sits directly on the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga, a mid-sized public university layered onto a city that has become known nationally for outdoor recreation — rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater — and for early, aggressive investment in municipal gigabit internet. Part of the University of Tennessee system but genuinely distinct from the Knoxville flagship, UTC carries a more teaching-centered, personal feel, with smaller classes and closer faculty contact than students would find at a big research flagship, while still offering a real city-campus setting rather than an isolated college town.

Academics

Engineering, nursing, and business are UTC's strongest areas, and the university's SimCenter — a nationally recognized program in computational engineering — gives it a research profile in modeling and simulation that's unusual for a school this size, with a doctoral program built specifically around it. Co-op and internship relationships with Chattanooga's employer base, including its manufacturing and healthcare sectors, run deep and start early for engineering and business students. The Brock Scholars honors program offers smaller seminars and closer research mentorship for students who want an even more personal version of UTC's already intimate scale.

Campus & student life

Chattanooga's outdoor recreation culture bleeds directly into campus life — students take advantage of nearby climbing, mountain biking, and river access, much of it within a short drive of campus, alongside a walkable, revitalized downtown. The scale of the university keeps the social atmosphere close-knit compared to larger state schools, and Mocs athletics in the Southern Conference, with football played at Finley Stadium downtown, gives students a genuine, accessible game-day experience rather than a stadium-scale spectacle.

Getting in

Admission is holistic but not highly selective, and the university emphasizes fit with its co-op and internship-driven programs, particularly for students interested in engineering or health fields tied to local employers. The Brock Scholars program has its own, more competitive application process for students seeking an honors-level experience within UTC's broader student body.

After graduation

Graduates place well with Chattanooga-area employers thanks to the co-op pipeline, and the SimCenter's research ties give engineering graduates a real path into modeling-and-simulation-heavy industries well beyond the immediate region. The university's healthcare and business ties give students a clear, regionally grounded path from degree to job without requiring a move to a larger city.

Worth knowing

Being part of the University of Tennessee system but distinct from the Knoxville flagship means UTC offers a smaller, more personal alternative for students who want the UT name with a different scale and setting. The SimCenter is a genuine point of national distinction for a school this size, and students interested in computational engineering should look at it specifically rather than assume it's a generic engineering program.

utc.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate81.1%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1013–1210 · ACT 20–26

Test policyrequired

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying