UT-Knoxville earns ‘high rankings across multiple disciplines’ nationally

An image of UT-Knoxville from the university's website

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville achieved “high rankings across multiple disciplines” in the latest U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges report, a recent university announcement said.

According to a news release, UT ranks 52nd among public universities and 109th among all colleges and universities nationally. It said that “more students than ever are seeking out the university’s highly regarded academic programs” and benefiting from initiatives aimed at increasing first-year retention and overall graduation rates.

“Record retention and graduation rates are a testament to the commitment of faculty and staff to our students’ success,” Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick said in a statement. “This achievement is the result of our dedication to collaborative engagement with our students and innovative curricula and programming to ensure that students are not only staying on track but thriving throughout their academic journey.”

In terms of specific programs, the announcement said, undergraduate programs in the College of Nursing rank 19th among public universities, after climbing 32 spots since last year. Among all institutions nationally, the announcement added, UT’s nursing programs have risen 41 spots and rank 26th.

The announcement noted that nursing graduates “regularly achieve one of the highest first-time pass rates” on the annual National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN), at 98.5 percent. This pass rate is higher than both the national average of 87 percent and the Tennessee average of 90 percent.

“We are incredibly proud to see our undergraduate nursing program recognized as one of the top 20 among public universities,” Victoria Niederhauser, dean and Sara Rosenbalm Croley Endowed Dean’s Chair, said in a statement. “This significant rise in the rankings reflects the dedication and excellence of our faculty, staff and students as well as the innovative approaches we’ve taken to enhance nursing education. As we continue to address the growing demand for highly skilled nurses, this ranking shows our commitment to preparing future leaders in health care.”

According to the announcement, the university’s supply chain management program in the UT Haslam College of Business ranks third among public institutions and fourth nationally. It said this was the fifth year in a row that the program ranked in the top five nationally and first in the Southeastern Conference. The college also ranks 25th among public universities and 40th nationally.

In addition, the summer Gartner’s 2024 Top 25 Supply Chain University rankings placed UT at No. 2 in North America for undergraduate programs.

“The quality of the faculty and the staff who support students, coupled with an innovative first-rate undergraduate programs office, gives students a full range of opportunities to sample and pursue,” Stephen L. Mangum, dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair, said. “While the value of a business education is not conveyed by rankings alone, it is satisfying when the rankings affirm direct measures such as high-caliber employment outcomes.”

Among other notable achievements, UT’s Tickle College of Engineering ranked 37th among public institutions and 66th nationally, while computer science rose nine spots to 29th among public institutions and rose 18 spots to 53rd nationally.  

“It is gratifying to see that the Tickle College of Engineering undergraduate programs remain ranked by our peers as among the very best in the country,” said Matthew Mench, dean and Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair. “We are constantly seeking ways to build upon the world-class education, facilities and faculty we have to provide all of our students the greatest possible opportunities to thrive here and during their future careers in engineering.”