Last Updated: Monday August 03, 2026  ·  Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard Nov 2025
The University of Tennessee-Martin (UT Martin) — Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements
Public Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Martin, Tennessee 87.3% Acceptance Rate

The University of Tennessee-Martin (UT Martin) Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

📍 Martin, Tennessee 38238 🏛️ Main Campus 🌐 https://www.utm.edu/

The University of Tennessee-Martin — Admission Snapshot 2026

A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application

87.3%Acceptance Rate
3.6Avg GPA
1090Avg SAT
22Avg ACT
$21,628Annual Cost
$44,213Grad Salary
34.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
87.3%
Avg GPA
3.6
Avg SAT
1090
Avg ACT
22
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1000–1210
ACT Middle 50%
19–24
Avg Net Price
$10,299
Need-Based Aid
34.3% receive Pell

The University of Tennessee-Martin is a public institution known for its commitment to academic excellence and student success within a supportive campus atmosphere. Admissions look for evidence of academic preparedness and potential for engagement. The university seeks well-rounded students who will take advantage of its diverse range of academic programs, research opportunities, and community-based activities.

The University of Tennessee-Martin Acceptance Rate

Admission at The University of Tennessee-Martin is inclusive by design. 87.3% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.

What to Expect

  • Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
  • Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.

Selectivity at a Glance

Inclusive
The University of Tennessee-Martin Selectivity Meter
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 87.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

Recommended Academic Profile

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.15
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).

The University of Tennessee-Martin Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026

The University of Tennessee-Martin follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.

Key Admission Dates

🔄
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime

UT Martin reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.

February 1, 2026Scholarship Deadline
RollingAdmission Type

💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.

Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.

UT Martin GPA Requirement

The average GPA of admitted students at UT Martin is 3.6. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.

Between 3.30 and 3.6? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.

Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.80–4.00.

UT Martin GPA & Admission Outlook

Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.

Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.

This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.20 – 3.39
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.19
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors

Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here

  • Founded in 1900; primary regional campus within the University of Tennessee System, distinct from the UT Knoxville flagship - verify utm.edu specifically when researching this campus
  • Offers one of the few four-year bachelor's degree programs in Veterinary Technology in Tennessee, supported by on-campus teaching farms and equine facilities
  • University Scholars Program (competitive, separate application) stacks with the automatic Chancellor's Scholarship for a combined $6,500/year
  • AACSB-accredited business programs; ABET-accredited engineering technology and computer science degrees
  • Rural, agriculture-centered campus culture; the majority of students come from Tennessee, with strong representation from small West Tennessee towns
  • Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
  • Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.

Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.

Check Your Admission Chances at UT Martin

Admission Chance Predictor

Built from The University of Tennessee-Martin's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below

--%
Calculating Profile...

Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.

Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00

✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.

Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.

The University of Tennessee-Martin (UT Martin) Test Requirements

Scores aren't just a formality at UT Martin. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.

Can I Get Into UT Martin Without SAT or ACT?

Test scores are mandatory at UT Martin. Book your SAT/ACT dates early and plan on a retake if your score comes in under the averages below.

The University of Tennessee-Martin Average SAT Score: 1090

Admitted students at The University of Tennessee-Martin average a 1090 SAT (out of 1600).

SAT Competitiveness

The University of Tennessee-Martin SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1090 — Accessible

A 1090 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.

SAT Math
545
SAT Reading
560
Composite
1090
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1210 SAT or 24 ACT) to stand out. Below average? The University of Tennessee-Martin allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.

Scored under 1000? A retake is worth it at UT Martin. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.

SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

SAT score percentiles for The University of Tennessee-Martin
SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
SAT Math545500590
SAT Reading560500620
SAT Composite109010001210

A score under 1000 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1210+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)

View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100

Can I get into The University of Tennessee-Martin (UT Martin) with a 1200 SAT?

At 1200, your SAT is squarely in UT Martin's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.

The University of Tennessee-Martin (UT Martin) ACT Requirements

UT Martin's admitted students average an ACT of 22.

ACT Competitiveness

The University of Tennessee-Martin ACT Competitiveness
ACT 22 — Slightly Competitive

An average of 22 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.

ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

ACT score percentiles for The University of Tennessee-Martin
SectionAverage25th Percentile75th Percentile
ACT Math211724
ACT English221825
ACT Composite221924

Can I get into The University of Tennessee-Martin with a 24 ACT?

At 24, you're in the top quarter of UT Martin's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.

The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.

Beyond the number itself, UT Martin weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 22

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for UT Martin

Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation

UT Martin takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.

Confirm students are researching UT Martin specifically, not the UT Knoxville flagship

"University of Tennessee" most commonly refers to the flagship Knoxville campus in casual conversation and search results, but UT Martin is a separate, primary regional campus within the University of Tennessee System with its own admissions process, acceptance rate, and program offerings - generally more accessible than Knoxville's. Families should explicitly confirm they're looking at utm.edu and UT Martin-specific admissions data before drawing conclusions about selectivity, cost, or program availability, since conflating the two campuses (both legitimately called "University of Tennessee") is an easy and consequential mistake.

Point pre-veterinary and animal-science students to the bachelor's-level Veterinary Health Technology program

UT Martin offers one of the few four-year bachelor's degree programs in Veterinary Technology in Tennessee - most veterinary technology credentials nationally are two-year associate degrees, making UT Martin's bachelor's-level pathway a genuine differentiator that draws statewide interest. Combined with on-campus teaching farms and equine facilities, students serious about veterinary support careers (as distinct from veterinary school itself) should reference this specific bachelor's-level program by name, since it represents a more advanced credential than what's typically available in the region.

Explain how the University Scholars Program stacks with the Chancellor's Scholarship

UT Martin's University Scholars Program is the university's primary competitive flagship scholarship - highly selective, requiring a separate application beyond general admission - and it explicitly stacks with the automatic, GPA/test-based Chancellor's Scholarship for a combined value of $6,500 per year. Counselors should walk high-achieving applicants through applying for both specifically, rather than assuming the automatic Chancellor's award alone represents their full scholarship ceiling, since the competitive University Scholars application is a genuine additional funding layer many students overlook.

Reference UT Martin's specific accreditations for business, engineering, and CS applicants

UT Martin's business programs are AACSB-accredited (a distinction held by a small fraction of business schools nationally), while its engineering technology and computer science degrees are ABET-accredited - both genuine, checkable professional accreditations rather than generic quality claims. Students in these fields should cite these specific accreditations directly when discussing program credibility, particularly since ABET accreditation matters for engineering licensure pathways and AACSB accreditation is a recognized signal for business program quality.

Expert Insight:

UT Martin's identity as "a very rural school with a great agriculture program" (as described by current students) means the campus culture, student demographics, and surrounding town are genuinely different from an urban or suburban university experience - the majority of students come from Tennessee, many from small towns, and agriculture is a visible part of everyday campus life. Students expecting a large-city or high-diversity urban campus experience should have this rural, agriculture-centered culture described accurately and early, since it's a defining and consistently-reported characteristic of the school, not an incidental detail.

UT Martin Profile

Full Name
The University of Tennessee-Martin (UT Martin)
City
Martin
State
Tennessee
ZIP Code
38238
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)

Is a UT Martin Degree Worth It?

At $21,628/year against a $44,213 median graduate salary, UT Martin is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.

Admitted students' families report a median household income around $48,500, and graduates see a 3.58% unemployment rate.

How much does a degree from UT Martin Cost?

Listed tuition runs $21,628/year at UT Martin. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $10,299.

At UT Martin, 34.3% receive a Pell Grant and 33.4% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming UT Martin on it improves your shot at both.

How much does a UT Martin Graduate earn?

Ten years out from enrollment, UT Martin graduates report a median income of $44,213, about 9% above the U.S. median graduate income.

$21,628Annual Cost
$10,299Net Price
34.3%Pell Grant
33.4%Federal Loan
$44,213Grad Salary (10yr)

Compare Similar Colleges

Less Competitive

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than The University of Tennessee-Martin. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.

SchoolLocationSATACT
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL 1055 21
Marion Military Institute Marion, AL 1043 20
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR 1049 21
Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR 1050 21
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR 1050 20
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR 1050 21
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, CO 1070 23
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 1077 22
Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT 1044 24
Baptist University of Florida Graceville, FL 1045 20
Same Competitive

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as The University of Tennessee-Martin. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

SchoolLocationSATACT
Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, AL 1090 21
Spring Hill College Mobile, AL 1090 22
Troy University Troy, AL 1086 22
Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ 1095 22
University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR 1088 21
More Competitive

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than The University of Tennessee-Martin. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

SchoolLocationSATACT
Huntingdon College Montgomery, AL 1148 23
Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL 1121 22
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA 1155 22
University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO 1140 25
Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO 1130 25

Degree Programs at UT Martin

Bachelor Degree Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About UT Martin Admissions

The University of Tennessee-Martin graduates earn a lower median salary of $44,213/year, especially outside technical fields.

Tuition at The University of Tennessee-Martin is relatively affordable, around $21,628/year.

34.3% of The University of Tennessee-Martin students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income, and filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.

The University of Tennessee-Martin's acceptance rate is 87.3%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.

The average GPA of admitted The University of Tennessee-Martin students is 3.6, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.

There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.3 puts you in the standard applicant pool at The University of Tennessee-Martin. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.

A GPA of 3.2 or below makes admission tougher at The University of Tennessee-Martin, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.

The University of Tennessee-Martin weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1090, and within the 1000–1210 range, keeps you competitive.

The University of Tennessee-Martin follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.

For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before February 1, 2026. That's The University of Tennessee-Martin's scholarship priority date.

Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.

The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.

SK

Sohaib Ahmad Khan

Sohaib Ahmad Khan is a leading career counselor and admission guidance expert who has guided over 50,000 students worldwide. He is the author of four books and developer of widely used career counseling and aptitude assessment systems. .

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