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Colleges in and near Knoxville

Knoxville is home to two colleges, with about 38,000 students on campus

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (33,547 students on campus) and South College (4,052) are inside the city. About 14% of Knoxville’s residents are enrolled in college, above Tennessee (5%).

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Knoxville. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
44,921 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
South College
Residents in college
14%
Above TN (5%)
Nearest community college
12.2 mi
Pellissippi State · $4,786 tuition
Nearest public university
1.8 mi
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · $13,812 in-state
Median household income
$54K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Knoxville

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in KnoxvilleThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville has 33,547 students on campus in Knoxville, 74% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleLiving in Tennessee, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville charges $13,812 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $33,256. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 12.2 miles awayPellissippi State Community College in Knoxville: tuition and fees $4,786 a year for Tennessee residents.Students are 14% of residentsAbove Tennessee (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Knoxville

Two private colleges within 11.4 miles, one public college within 1.8 miles, and Pellissippi State Community College 12.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miThe University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleSouth CollegeKnoxville
University or collegeCommunity college
South CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,052 on campus · In Knoxville · mostly online$18knet price42%graduate$37kearnings51% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleUniversity or college · Public · 33,547 on campus · In Knoxville42%admitted$19knet price74%graduate$60kearningsJohnson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 681 on campus · 11.4 mi · Knoxville65%admitted$22knet price57%graduate$41kearningsPellissippi State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,641 on campus · 12.2 mi · Knoxville$5knet price31%graduate$38kearningsTuition and fees: $4,786 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Knoxville’s median household income ($54,039) falls.

Pellissippi State Community College12.2 mi · Knoxville · sticker $13,431 · tuition $4,786$6,369a year
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleIn Knoxville · sticker $33,678$18,206a year
South CollegeIn Knoxville · mostly online · sticker $30,954$18,964a year
Johnson University11.4 mi · Knoxville · sticker $34,244$23,206a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Knoxville: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →South CollegeThe University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleJohnson UniversityPellissippi State
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville74% graduate$60k earnings$20k typical debt
Pellissippi State Community College31% graduate$38k earnings$9k typical debt
South College42% graduate$37k earnings$19k typical debt
Johnson University57% graduate$41k earnings$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Knoxville

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 30%Engineering 9%Parks & recreation 7%Health professions 7%Communication 6%Biology 6%Everything else 34%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations595 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness313 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Marketing302 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Biology, General248 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services246 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing239 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods181 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government149 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: South College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Knoxville

Is Knoxville a college town?

No. About 14 of every 100 Knoxville residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Tennessee (5). The largest campus in the city, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, has 33,547 students on campus.

What colleges are in Knoxville?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and South College are inside the city. Pellissippi State Community College is 12.2 miles away in Knoxville.

What is the closest community college to Knoxville, and what does it cost?

Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, 12.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,786 a year for Tennessee residents; the federal net price, $4,983, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville cost if we live in Tennessee?

Tuition and fees are $13,812 a year in-state and $33,256 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $10,029 (under $30,000 income) to $25,688 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Knoxville. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →