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UT System reports rising applications and market share; UT Knoxville posts 92.4% first‑year retention
Summary
University of Tennessee System staff told trustees that decisionable applications rose systemwide, UT’s market share of Tennessee college‑going students increased from about 15% to 16%, UT Knoxville posted a 92.4% first‑year retention rate and UT Southern showed large recent retention gains.
Dr. Matt Matthews, speaking for Vice President Bernie Savory, presented system data on high‑school graduates, college‑going rates and campus admissions, yield and retention.
Matthews said there were about 65,000 high‑school graduates in Tennessee in 2024 and roughly 36,600 of them (56%) went on to college. He told trustees UT’s market share of Tennessee college‑going students rose from roughly 15% to 16% in the last five years, driven by gains at UT Knoxville and UT Chattanooga.
At the campus level Matthews reported that UT Knoxville’s decisionable applications have doubled over five years and that UTK had an in‑state first‑time, full‑time freshman figure of 4,326 (the presenter called this out as a scale indicator). He told trustees UTK’s retention rate was 92.4% and said that, while admission rates had fallen as selectivity increased, the institution remained committed to serving Tennessee students.
Matthews also summarized Chattanooga’s strong application growth and increasing out‑of‑state profile; UT Southern’s large increases in decisionable applications and a retention rise to over 76% in 2025; and UT Martin’s recovery in applications after a post‑COVID decline, a yield rate of about 23% and notable retention gains.
Trustees asked for projections and additional disaggregated data (including system‑level graphics framed to show UT system numbers). Matthews said projections are possible but converting market opportunity into enrollments will depend on institutional actions.
The transcript records discussion and questions but no formal votes associated with this presentation.
