KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For the sixth consecutive year, the University of Tennessee System has achieved enrollment growth, welcoming 65,618 students this fall and reaching a new systemwide enrollment high.
The fall 2026 enrollment represents a 1.2% increase over last year’s total of 64,866 students and an increase of 17.1% over the past five years. The growth comes as Tennesseans report increasing confidence in both the University of Tennessee and the value of a four-year degree.
A new statewide public opinion survey conducted on behalf of the UT System found that 82% of Tennesseans have a positive opinion of UT, up from 76% last year. Seventy-two percent also said a four-year degree from a Tennessee public college or university is worth the investment, up from 59% in 2025.
“Across Tennessee, people are telling us that they believe in the value of a college degree and in the University of Tennessee,” UT System President Randy Boyd said. “This enrollment growth shows that confidence is translating into action. Students and families are choosing UT because they see the opportunity a degree can create and the value of an education that prepares them for the future.”