The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will recommend a zero tuition increase for undergraduate students as part of its $2.37 billion budget. The Campus Advisory Board approved the budget for fiscal year 2026 during its meeting May 2. The budget will go before the UT System Board of Trustees for final approval in June.
Chancellor Donde Plowman opened the meeting with a campus update that included a recap of recent events celebrating UT’s collaboration with Arizona State University to expand online learning, the fifth anniversary of the Volkswagen Innovation Hub, and the turfgrass research being conducted to develop the best pitches for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 26.
“We are building a world-class university that supports our students and meets the needs of our state and beyond,” said Plowman. “These projects and partnerships directly support the university’s goals to create an unparalleled student experience, conduct and grow high-impact research in service to our state and leverage the success of Tennessee Athletics — the best athletics department in the nation.”
Plowman said two new residence halls remain on track to open in fall 2025. The residential complex on Caledonia Avenue will include 1,166 beds, and the hall on Andy Holt Avenue will have 788 beds. A third residence hall on Lake Loudoun Boulevard will add 1,028 beds and is expected to open in fall 2026. The new halls are a key component of the university’s strategic growth and an investment that will enhance the student experience.
Additional construction projects the chancellor highlighted include a new building for the College of Nursing, which is expected to open in fall 2025. An expansion for the Haslam College of Business and new Student Success Building are both projected to open in fall 2027. The chancellor noted that a new chemistry building is in the design phase. The state allocated a historic $165.2 million for the project, its largest investment ever awarded for a single higher education project.
UT to hold tuition even for 2025
Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Paul Byrnes told the board there will be zero tuition increases for both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students.
“We are committed to ensuring that the University of Tennessee remains an accessible and affordable option for all students,” said Byrnes. “Keeping tuition steady for the upcoming academic year reaffirms our commitment to deliver high-quality education without increasing the financial burden on students and their families. Most of our financial resources are spent directly on academic purposes and infrastructure to support our students and faculty.”
The board approved minimal increases to three of the university’s six mandatory fees to fund rising costs. The following fees are impacted:
- The facilities fee, which will increase $30 for in-state and $46 for out-of-state students to cover the rising costs of materials and services related to new construction and maintenance.
- The transportation fee, which will increase $24 for expanded transportation services to support perimeter parking and alternatives to driving to campus.
- The library fee, which will see a $10 increase to ensure that the library infrastructure can support student success and retention and research excellence.
Housing fees will increase between $300-$590 per academic year depending on the residence hall and room selection. Dining fees will increase $22-$179 per academic year depending on the meal plan selected. The Total Access material course fee is increasing $50. Total Access provides students a flat fee per term for all required undergraduate course materials. Students are able to opt out of the program.
UT Institute of Agriculture’s reach extends across the state and beyond
Senior Vice President and Senior Vice Chancellor for the UT Institute of Agriculture Keith Carver provided an update on the institute’s growth and its mission to provide solutions to the people of Tennessee and beyond.
UTIA is a statewide institute that includes UT Extension offices in all of Tennessee’s 95 counties and 10 AgResearch centers across the state. Carver highlighted a public-private partnership with Tyson Foods to build a new state-of-the art poultry research and education facility at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Spring Hill. The new facility will support the state’s poultry industry, which has an economic impact of more than $10 billion.
“We have 41,000 active research acres across Tennessee,” said Carver. “These are active farms where we’re developing patents and technological advancements for timber and agriculture. This work all goes back to the producers. We want to make farming profitable for Tennessee farmers.”
UTIA is committed to educating and training the next generation. It is experiencing record enrollment in both the Herbert College of Agriculture and the College of Veterinary Medicine. It has the highest 4-H club participation nationwide, with about 151,000 active members in the Tennessee 4-H program. The state approved more than $45 million in funding to support enhancements at 4-H camps statewide, improving facilities and expanding opportunities for Tennessee’s youth to engage in agricultural education and leadership development.
About the board
The Campus Advisory Board was created in 2018 when the Tennessee General Assembly passed the UT FOCUS Act, restructuring the UT Board of Trustees and creating an advisory board for each campus in the UT System. The board is charged with making campus-level recommendations to the UT Board of Trustees on strategic planning, operating budgets and tuition, as well as advising the chancellor.
Public members of the advisory board are Allen Carter of Niota, Alexia Poe of Nashville, Todd Skelton of Knoxville, Tom Smith of Nashville and John Tickle of Bristol.
The Faculty Senate-appointed member is Elisabeth Shussler, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The chancellor thanked outgoing student appointee Dante Grayson, a fourth-year undergraduate student and student body president, for his service to the board. A graduate student will be selected to fill the position next academic year as outlined in the student selection process.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Leko (876-974-8698, lleko@utk.edu)