In-state Policy
Guaranteed Admission
As part of our mission to make a college education more accessible to in-state students, UT will guarantee admission to in-state students who apply by our early action deadlines and meet certain requirements.
In-State Guaranteed Admission Policy
Tennessee high school residents attending a high school in Tennessee who apply by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s early action deadlines and meet the following criteria will be offered guaranteed admission to UT:
- Score a 24+ ACT composite (SAT 1160+) with both a 19+ Math ACT subscore (510+ SAT Math) AND 19+ English ACT subscore (500+ SAT (ER + W)) AND
- Achieve one of the following:
- Earn a 4.0+ UT Core GPA
- Be among the Top 10% of their high school graduating class
UT uses the superscoring method, meaning we take your highest section scores of each test taken to determine your new composite score for consideration. UT does not combine superscore section scores across the ACT and SAT.
Policy Details
- Apply as an entering first-year student by our early action application deadlines to be fully considered for guaranteed admission.
- Students must submit their application by November 1, and complete their application by November 15 to be considered an early action applicant.
- Students must be a US citizen domiciled in Tennessee and graduating from a Tennessee high school (public, private, charter, or home school).
- The UT Core GPA is calculated using 6th semester grades determined at the end of the junior year in high school.
- Admission to your choice of major indicated on the admission application is not guaranteed, as some programs require additional review.
- All applicants must submit self-reported or verified test scores at the point of application and are required to provide official, verified test scores by July 1 to finalize admission and financial aid, regardless of GPA or class percentile.
- In order to qualify for Guaranteed Admission, ACT scores must be self-reported or received by the November 15 completion deadline. We encourage you to refer to the ACT score releases to guide your test submission and the timeline for scores to be released.
- UT uses the superscoring method, meaning we take your highest section scores of each test taken to determine your new composite score for consideration. UT does not combine superscore section scores across the ACT and SAT.
- Charter school and home school students are eligible for consideration.
- Non-traditional high school students and mid-year graduates may qualify on a case-by-case basis.
Top 10 Percent Requirements
- Students must be a US citizen domiciled in Tennessee and graduating from a Tennessee high school with a graduation class of 15 or more students.
- The Top 10 percent is determined based on applicant’s 6th semester (post junior year) transcripts or via information provided by an official school representative (i.e., high school college guidance counselor).
- 6th semester transcripts are utilized because applicants will not have completed senior year coursework by UTK’s Nov. 1 Early Action Deadline.
- Applicants who achieve/reach the Top 10% during their senior year (following junior year coursework) or those who miss deadlines will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and admission decisions will be based on institutional capacity.
- UT will work directly with high schools and high school counselors to determine the top 10% of your graduating class.
For Tennessee High School Counselors
- Tennessee high school counselors can provide top 10% information in the High School Counselor Portal via Slate.org on the Top 10% tab. Please review information on creating an account or logging in by visiting our High School Counselors resources page.
- Additional instructions for Top 10% submission are found in the Slate.org portal.
- High school counselors must provide this information to UT no later than November 15 for students to be fully eligible for this policy.
Guaranteed Admission FAQs
How do I know if I qualify for guaranteed admission?
Tennessee residents attending a Tennessee high school who apply by our early action deadlines and attend a public, private or charter high school in the state of Tennessee and meet the following criteria listed below:
- Score a 24+ ACT composite (SAT 1160+) with both a 19+ Math ACT subscore (510+ SAT Math) AND 19+ English ACT subscore (500+ SAT (ER + W)) AND
- Achieve one of the following:
- Earn a 4.0+ UT Core GPA
- Be among the Top 10% of their high school graduating class
How do I know if I am in the top 10 percent of my class?
We encourage you to talk with your high school counselor. UT will provide resources to schools to assist school partners with providing this information.
What if I do not qualify for guaranteed admission and/or am just outside the top 10% of my class?
Students who do not meet guaranteed admission criteria or miss UT’s early action deadlines will be reviewed holistically by our admissions team.
Questions or Assistance?
Connect with your admissions counselor!