Tuition for in-state undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will remain the same this fall after the UT Board of Trustees approved the 2027 fiscal year budget at its annual meeting.
The board also heard highlights from the past year in Knoxville, which included new records in enrollment and student retention, fundraising and research expenditures.
“We are continuing to build on our successes and propel UT Knoxville forward as one of the top public land-grant research universities in the country,” said Chancellor Donde Plowman. “We would not be able to maintain this momentum without the support of the board and the president, and the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students.”
Board approves 2027 budget
The 2027 budget marks the sixth time in the past seven years that UT will hold tuition even for in-state students. Out-of-state students will see a 5.1% tuition increase.
Mandatory fees will increase by $148 for in-state students and $174 for out-of-state students.
The board also approved instituting a differential tuition rate of $175 per credit hour for undergraduate courses in the natural sciences and $252 per credit hour for engineering courses. The differential tuition rate helps maintain smaller class sizes, offsets the higher cost of specialized laboratories and equipment, and provides additional student support. It will replace course fees that were previously used to offset those costs.
The budget includes an increase in UT Knoxville’s minimum pay for regular employees from $15 to $18 per hour effective July 1, which will help recruit and retain frontline and operational employees who are essential to keeping the university running and whose work shapes the student experience.
New undergraduate degree programs
The board approved programs for two new undergraduate degrees, pending state approval.
A new Bachelor of Arts degree in civic and constitutional thought, housed in the Institute of American Civics in the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, will draw from coursework across disciplines including government, philosophy, political science and economics. The degree, set to be implemented in the fall, will prepare students for careers in law, education, nonprofit agencies and public service.
A Bachelor of Fine Arts in industrial design, set for implementation in fall 2027 in the School of Design within the College of Architecture and Design, will prepare students for careers in Tennessee’s robust manufacturing sector, helping shape products in industries including consumer electronics, automotive, furniture, appliances and healthcare.
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