More University of Tennessee students are graduating on time, earning degrees without student debt and moving into careers or graduate education, according to new figures presented to the UT Board of Trustees.
The UT System awarded 16,382 degrees in 2026, a 26.4% increase over five years. At the board’s fall meeting on October 16, university leaders highlighted improvements in graduation rates, affordability and career preparation across the statewide system.
More students graduating debt-free
One of the most encouraging findings is that 56.3% of UT undergraduates graduated without student debt in 2026, compared with 46.5% in 2020.
The system’s four-year graduation rate reached 61.8%, an increase of 14 percentage points over five years.
The report also found that 88% of 2024-25 graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
UT System President Randy Boyd said the university’s mission extends beyond enrolling more students.
“The greatest decade in UT history is more than just getting students in the door,” Boyd said. “It’s helping them graduate with the skills employers need, without student debt holding them back and a strong foundation for successful careers. When students succeed, our whole state benefits.”
The figures reflect progress in helping students complete degrees while reducing the financial burden that can follow graduates into their working lives.
New Compton Center for Student Success
The trustees also approved naming UT Knoxville’s new student success building the Compton Center for Student Success, recognizing a transformational gift from John and Cindy Compton.
John Compton, who has chaired the UT Board of Trustees since 2018, has been a longtime advocate for initiatives that help students remain enrolled and complete their degrees.
“Student success has to be at the center of everything we do,” Compton said. “We have a responsibility to give students access to a high-quality education and to make sure they have the support they need to finish what they start. Cindy and I believe deeply in the transformative power of education, and we know this center will help strengthen that commitment for generations of students.”
The 116,000-square-foot building, scheduled to open in fall 2027, will bring academic resources, career services and student support together in one central campus location.
Located near Hodges Library, the center will offer academic coaching and extended hours to help students access assistance when they need it.
UT Knoxville reported additional student success milestones, including a 93.1% first-year retention rate and a four-year graduation rate of 71.4%. These campus-specific results are separate from the systemwide graduation figures.
Growing across Tennessee
The UT System serves more than 65,000 students through campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis. Its statewide reach also includes the UT Institute of Agriculture, the Institute for Public Service and its partnership in managing Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The latest results come as UT continues working to increase degree completion, improve affordability and prepare graduates for Tennessee’s workforce.
For students and families weighing the cost of higher education, the growing percentage of graduates completing college without debt offers an encouraging measure of progress.
Read the full UT System report and learn more about the Compton Center for Student Success.
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