Every student has their own journey to higher education. Regardless of where a student’s journey starts, finding the right environment for their interests and needs is crucial to reaching their higher-education goals.
Thankfully, our state offers students a number of options all through one connected network: the University of Tennessee System. The UT System is the state’s flagship higher-education system, tracing our roots back to 1794. Today, we serve more than 62,000 students across five major university campuses at UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Southern, UT Martin and the UT Health Science Center.
Our footprint allows us to offer students different environments, experiences and opportunities across our schools, based on their specific needs. We have five campuses: one right for each student.
UT Chattanooga offers an approachable campus feel with all the benefits of living in a big city. UT Knoxville provides world-class research opportunities in an SEC environment. Both UT Martin and UT Southern offer tight-knit campuses where students can build strong relationships with faculty and each other. And at the UT Health Science Center based in Memphis, we train most of the state’s health care providers, from future doctors and nurses to dentists and specialists.
But our mission to educate, discover and connect goes only as far as our ability to support our students. As the state’s public university system, we’re pleased to offer a number of scholarships and financial aid to students who qualify. Nearly half our students graduate debt free thanks in part to UT Promise, a scholarship program guaranteeing free tuition for qualified Tennessee students.
Choosing to go to college is a choice that can have a lasting impact on a student’s career, as data shows Tennessee workers with bachelor’s degrees earn, on average, $1.4 million more in their lifetime compared to those with a high school diploma. A college degree still matters in 2025, and new data shows the wage gap between recent college grads and high school grads is growing.
While degrees are what bring students into college, fit is what helps them succeed and graduate. That’s why we believe deeply in the importance of offering students different options, opportunities and environments to choose from, so they can find one that fits their needs, and thrive in and outside of our buildings.
No matter where students find their best fit, they graduate with the same pride and the same UT degree, joining a global network of over 454,000 alumni. A degree from the University of Tennessee isn’t just the culmination of years of hard work; it’s the beginning of a lifelong connection to an alumni network that spans across the world, a network that can open doors, provide opportunities and create lifelong bonds.
This bond goes beyond just a shared alma mater. It’s a connection rooted in a common experience, a shared set of values and a commitment to excellence. Our alumni excel in every field as doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, engineers and more. They are innovators, changemakers, and most importantly, they are leaders at heart, committed to making a difference in their communities.
Joining the UT System means more than just earning a degree: It’s about embracing the spirit of Tennessee and paving the way for future generations. And, in the end, that’s the true power of the UT System: As alumni, you’re part of something bigger, a collective force to improve our state and the lives of others through leadership, innovation and service. Start your journey at FindYourUT.com
