Students at The University of Tennessee Knoxville won’t see a tuition increase next fall but could face several fee hikes under a budget approved by the university’s Campus Advisory Board.¶
The board signed off on the $2.37 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 during its meeting Friday. Under the proposed budget, tuition will hold steady at $11,560 per semester for in-state students and $30,704 for out-of-state students for the 2025-26 school year. This follows a tuition hike last year of 2 percent for in-state students and 4 percent for out-of-state students. University officials say they have worked to keep any financial impacts to students minimal and ensure UT remains competitive with other universities.¶
“We are committed to ensuring that the University of Tennessee remains an accessible and affordable option for all students,” said UT Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Paul Byrnes. “Keeping tuition steady for the upcoming academic year reaffirms our commitment to deliver high-quality education without increasing the financial burden on students and their families. Most of our financial resources are spent directly on academic purposes and infrastructure to support our students and faculty.”¶
While there is no plan to raise tuition, board members signed off on increases to three of the university’s six mandatory fees. Those increases result in a hike totaling $1,472 per year for in-state students and $1,536 per year for out-of-state students. The fees impacted are:¶
- The facilities fee will increase by $30 per semester for in-state and $46 for out-of-state students to cover the rising costs of materials and services related to new construction and maintenance.
- The transportation fee will increase by $24 per semester for expanded transportation services to support perimeter parking and alternatives to driving to campus.
- The library fee, which covers collections, databases, and some research activities, will increase by $10 per semester.
In addition to those fee increases, students can also expect to see a 3.6 percent cost increase in nearly all dining plans. Housing rates will also go up by 5 percent for every option. University officials say those increases will help to offset inflation costs as well as maintenance, salaries, and debt.¶
During the meeting, several board members expressed concern about the economic climate and the possible impact of potential grant losses and decreased enrollment in the event of a recession. Byrnes told the group the university has not seen any significant impacts yet, but there are additional cost-cutting measures that could be taken if the need arises. Board member Tom Smith said he’s pleased to see the university’s growth but also urged caution.¶
“I just think we need to be on the record as saying we certainly should be prudent in analyzing expenses because I don’t believe we’re going to have this hard fall, but I also wouldn’t bet against it. So, I’m glad to hear we have the ability to ratchet that (expenses) down,” said Smith.¶
The proposed budget is an increase of more than $200 million from last year, which UT officials attribute to campus growth and an increase in student enrollment. UT has become one of the most popular state universities in the country, with more than 68,000 prospective students submitting applications for the upcoming year.¶
“We are building a world-class university that supports our students and meets the needs of our state and beyond,” said UT Chancellor Donde Plowman. "Our team is sorting through it right now, but I can tell you this: It's going to be historic in terms of both numbers and the academic profile of the students that are going to be with us in the fall.”¶
The proposed budget will go before the UT System Board of Trustees for final approval during its annual meeting next month.¶
