University of Tennessee sees record-breaking retention, graduation rates

Students cheer while watching a drone show and fireworks display at UT-Knoxville. (Photo from UT-Knoxville) 

Newly released data from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville shows that the university has had another historic year for enrollment, retention, and graduation rates.

According to a news release outlining the data, the university has posted a record retention rate for its second year in a row, with 91.9 percent of first-year students returning for their sophomore year. It said the university’s success in keeping students on track to graduate has also been a major driver of the university’s enrollment growth, which hit 38,728 students, a 6.7 percent increase and institutional record.

“The hands-on programming and community building efforts that we have put into place over the last several years are paying off and helping ensure our students have the confidence and the resources they need to thrive here on Rocky Top,” Chancellor Donde Plowman said. “I’m incredibly proud of the way everyone on campus, including faculty, staff and administration, take ownership in the success of our students.”

University data also shows an increase in both undergraduate and graduate students, at nearly 6 percent and 10 percent growth, respectively. This marks the fourth consecutive year UT has improved graduation rates, hitting a new high of 74 percent of students graduating in six years. UT’s four-year graduation rate also improved to a record 62 percent, according to the data.

In addition, the news release said, UT set another record with 59,764 first-year applications, representing an 18.4 percent increase overall. That total includes 13,515 in-state applications, representing an 11.1 percent increase. What’s more, a record 4,348 students from Tennessee are among this year’s 6,804 first-year students, representing an in-state increase of 13 percent from last year’s incoming class.

The news release noted that when Plowman arrived on campus in 2019, she identified improving graduation rates as an institutional priority and established the Division of Student Success to implement initiatives to support first-generation students and veteran students.

Since then, it said, UT has improved retention rates more than 5 percentage points from the 86.5 percent rate when she first became chancellor. The four-year graduation rate has also improved nearly 10 percentage points from 53.8 percent.