How the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's rank changed in the 2024 Best Colleges list

Keenan Thomas, Knoxville News Sentinel
Updated ·3 min read
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The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has jumped up in its rankings as a top university in the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2024 list released Sept. 18.

UT Knoxville tied for 51st among public universities in the country, up two slots from last year.

It tied for 105th among universities overall in the Best National Universities ranking with nine other schools. That's 10 places up from last year's 115th ranking.

“I am proud of the momentum we’ve built in recent years, particularly our achievements in student success, research and academic excellence,” UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a press release. “It is always nice to see the hard work and success of our students, faculty and staff recognized by others. I’m especially proud of our reputation as a university on the forefront of innovation.”

How Tennessee did in other national U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2024

  • Fourth in Supply Chain Management/Logistics

  • 29th in Business Analytics

  • 41st in Faculty Research

  • 46th in Accounting

  • 58th (tied) in Most Innovative Schools

  • 61st (tied) for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

  • 61st in Aerospace Engineering

  • 67th (tied) in Nursing

  • 71st in Computer Science

  • 112th (tied) in Economics

  • 117th in Best Value Schools

Top five universities in Tennessee on overall list

  • Vanderbilt: 18th

  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville: 105th

  • Belmont University: 236th

  • Lipscomb University: 236th

  • Tennessee Tech University: 249th

SEC schools above University of Tennessee at Knoxville in overall ranking

  • University of Florida: 28th (tie)

  • Texas A&M: 47th (tie)

  • University of Georgia: 47th (tie)

  • Auburn University: 93rd (tie)

How Tennessee compares to Southeastern Conference schools in public school ranking

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville welcomed record enrollment to campus this semester.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville welcomed record enrollment to campus this semester.

  • University of Florida: 6th

  • University of Georgia: 20th (tied)

  • Texas A&M University: 20th (tied)

  • Auburn University: 47th

  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville: 51st 

  • University of Missouri: 64th (tied)

  • University of South Carolina: 64th (tied)

  • University of Kentucky: 84th

  • University of Mississippi: 88th

  • University of Alabama: 91st

  • University of Arkansas: 96th

  • Louisiana State University: 101st

  • Mississippi State University: 116th

How Tennessee compares to aspirational peers on public school ranking

  • University of Florida: 6th

  • University of Wisconsin: 12th

  • Purdue University: 17th

  • University of Georgia: 20th

  • University of Minnesota: 23rd

  • Michigan State University: 28th

  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville: 51st

How Tennessee compares to comparative peer schools in public school ranking

  • Virginia Tech: 20th

  • North Carolina State University: 28th

  • Clemson University: 43rd

  • Auburn University: 47th

  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville: 51st

  • Iowa State University: 58th

  • University of Missouri: 64th (tied)

  • University of South Carolina: 64th (tied)

  • University of Nebraska: 84th (tied)

  • University of Kentucky 84th (tied)

  • University of Alabama: 91st

The organization announced a change to its methodology in deciding the rankings. It no longer considers class size, the proportion of a school's faculty with terminal degrees, alumni giving rate, the proportion of graduates borrowing or high school class standing.

New criteria include how much college graduates earn over high school graduates, faculty research and graduation results for first-generation students.

The changes were made to accommodate how students from every socioeconomic background use information provided to them and earn degrees.

Data for the 2024 U.S. News rankings was gathered in the spring and early summer of 2023. The organization collects information about each school in different areas and outcomes, like student retention and graduation rates, faculty resources, test scores and alumni giving.

Keenan Thomas is a higher education reporter. Email keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com. Twitter @specialk2real.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: University of Tennessee Knoxville rank in US Best Colleges list