
Knoxville, TNprivate nonprofitjohnsonu.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 53%–81% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Johnson University is a faith-based institution in Knoxville, TN, where every bachelor's program includes a Bible and Theology major alongside traditional arts and sciences. With a 53-65% acceptance rate and a rural campus vibe near the Smoky Mountains, it attracts students seeking a spiritually grounded education with practical majors like Business Administration and Digital Arts. Graduates earn median salaries around $35,649 six years out, reflecting its niche as a affordable Christian college with a 56% four-year graduation rate.
Test scores required
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Johnson University is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 53.8% to 65% across sources. Admitted students typically have ACT scores between 18–24 or SAT scores of 970–1,170. The university emphasizes accessibility, with 63% of students receiving financial aid. Notably, the Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare. highlights its inclusion of transfer students and First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. undergraduates in admissions reporting.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Every bachelor’s degree at Johnson includes a Bible and Theology major paired with an arts and sciences core, reflecting its faith-based mission. Popular majors include Business Administration (60% of graduates in 2024) and Digital Arts (25%). The 2022 addition of a Life Sciences degree caters to pre-professional tracks like physical therapy and zoology. Seven academic schools organize programs, with online options emphasizing affordability and spiritual growth.
Life on Johnson’s rural campus blends dorm camaraderie with proximity to Knoxville’s culture and the Smoky Mountains. Faith is central, with daily chapel and community events highlighted in student testimonials. The university promotes a "transformational education" through small-group Bible studies and service projects. Reviews note a tight-knit atmosphere, though some mention limited nightlife options typical of a religious campus.
Johnson’s four-year graduation rate is 56%, rising to 61% over six years—above average for similar faith-based colleges. Alumni median earnings six years post-graduation are $35,649, reflecting its emphasis on ministry and middle-income professions. The Florida campus lags behind (29% six-year rate), but the Tennessee main campus outperforms peers like Johnson C. Smith (34%).
Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $20,712–$21,013 after aid, with 63% of students receiving assistance. Institutional scholarships are widely available for full-time students, and the university promotes its affordability in online programs. The aid package average is $12,493, though part-time students only qualify for aid in their final term.
Johnson’s fusion of mandatory theology coursework with practical majors like Computer Science and Business creates a unique niche. Its 56% graduation rate is strong for a small Christian college, and the Smoky Mountains location appeals to outdoorsy students. While earnings lag behind secular universities, its affordability and spiritual focus draw a dedicated cohort—especially those planning ministry careers or faith-integrated professions.