The University of Tennessee-Knoxville — ROI, Cost & Payback
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville charges a net price of $18,976/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $75,904. Graduates earn a median $60,249 ten years after entry, $11,889/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.4 years — a 20-year net return of $161,876, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's 6.4-year payback ranks #561 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 56% of them, and #6 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $18,976/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $75,904 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $60,249 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $11,889/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $161,876 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's own numbers. Net price $18,976 × 4 years = $75,904 total. Median earnings $60,249 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $11,889 a year of premium. $75,904 ÷ $11,889 = 6.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $161,876. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do The University of Tennessee-Knoxville students graduate with?
A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 34% of the $60,249 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of The University of Tennessee-Knoxville students graduate?
74% finish their degree. Spread the $75,904 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $102,573 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $18,976 net price runs $3,707 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $14,828 more across the full degree.