College comparison

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville vs South Carolina

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN	South Carolina Columbia, SC
Acceptance rateThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville is more selective	42%	60%
SAT (25–75)	1200–1370	1180–1360
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	30,418	29,820
Avg net price	$18,976	$22,811
Median earnings (10 yr)South Carolina reports higher median earnings	$60,249	$62,177
Graduation rate	74%	79%
Median debt	$20,500	$21,500
Economic mobility	—	—
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville or University of South Carolina-Columbia harder to get into?

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is more selective: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's acceptance rate is approximately 42% and University of South Carolina-Columbia's is approximately 60% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for The University of Tennessee-Knoxville vs University of South Carolina-Columbia?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1200–1370 at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and 1180–1360 at University of South Carolina-Columbia. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.