University of Tennessee Financial Aid

About University of Tennessee

The flagship of the UT system, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville is a pretty large (21,000 undergrads) university with high research activity, a rich history, and strong, spirited athletic programs. Founded in 1794, University of Tennessee is one of the oldest universities in the country, and has found itself in the middle of many a historic conflict over the course of the country's development, from the War of 1812 to the Civil War and eventual integration of the University in the 1950s. Currently, the school is home to 21,000 undergrad students, and has lots to offer, from a huge Greek life program with 29 frats and 18 sororities to a strong athletic program; all told, the University of Tennessee is a pretty great place.

Budgeting and Tennessee Financial Aid

The majority of students at University of Tennessee (about 92%) receive some form of financial aid from the school; if you're part of this majority of students, then we have one very simple message for you: keep your spending to a minimum. Why? Because you're most likely being given money to attend the University of Tennessee, and you're probably borrowing some too. That money is meant for tuition and expenses directly related to your education, so don't go blow it on clothes or buying a beer bong or anything that doesn't have to do with school. An occasional meal out on the town, maybe at Krystal or Buffalo Wild Wings, shouldn't damage your budget too much, so that's okay. You should also leave some room for student tickets: football tickets are $10/game, which is super cheap, but it's worth keeping in your budget anyways. Greek life is also very popular on campus, so in case you go Greek, squirrel some cash away to cover dues or fees.

Applying for Tennessee Financial Aid

The University of Tennessee financial aid office only requires students to submit one form to be considered for aid funds, and that form is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA's really not a bad form, so you should feel pretty good right now; plus, the University of Tennessee financial aid program is pretty robust/generous, as 92% of students receive aid, and only 37% have financial need great enough to take out federal loans after receiving their aid packages.

Tennessee Financial Aid Packages

All schools (with very few exceptions) offer financial aid packages that are built around four standard forms of aid: loans, work-study programs, scholarships, and grants. These ingredients are what you'll find in a Tennessee financial aid package, and again, are satisfactory for most students. Only 37% take out federal student loans, and a still smaller group (about 6%) takes out private student loans, as they don't have enough cash on hand to cover the gap between their tuition bill and aid award. If you're in this sort of a situation, consider a private student loan. To learn more about your loan options and apply for one, check out our student loan comparison right on this page.