Enhancing Educational Excellence
At the University of Tennessee System, we are committed to expanding UT’s educational footprint, enhancing student success and elevating UT’s national reputation for educational excellence and academic innovation.
Goal 1.1
Expand UT’s Educational Footprint
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 1.1.1
Increase total enrollment and total degrees awarded.
UT System Total Enrollment
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 51,582 (AY20) | 61,500 |
UT System Total Degrees Awarded
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 12,227 (AY20) | 15,000 |
Objective 1.1.3
Increase the number of adult learners and international and out-of-state students.
UT System Undergraduate Student Enrollment by Select Student Groups
| Metric | Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Learners | 3,334 UG (AY20) | 5,000 |
| International | 521 UG (AY20) | 20% |
| Out-of-State | 5, 521 UG (AY20) | 20% |
Goal 1.2
Enhance student success
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 1.2.1
Increase fall-to-fall first-year retention rate to 87.5%.
Fall-to-Fall First-Year Retention Rates at the UT System
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 83.5% (AY20) | 87.5% |
Objective 1.2.2
Increase 4-year and 6-year graduation rates.
4-year and 6-year Graduation Rates
| Metric | Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Graduation rate | TBD | TBD |
| 6-Year Graduation rate | 62.9% (AY20) | 70.5% |
Objective 1.2.3
Eliminate achievement gaps in first-year retention and graduation rates for historically underserved students (gender, minority*, Pell-eligible, first-generation, and rural vs urban).
UT System Student Success Achievement Gaps based on Retention Rates
| Metric | Baseline |
|---|---|
| Male vs Female | 82.8% Male vs 84.0% Female (AY20) |
| Minority* vs Non-Minority *American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or multi-racial. | 83.0% Minority vs 83.5% Non-Minority (AY20) |
| Pell recipient vs Non-Pell recipient | 77.2% Pell vs 83.4% Non-Pell (AY20) |
| First-gen vs Non-first gen | TBD |
| Rural vs Urban | 74.8% Rural vs 83.6% Urban (AY20) |
| 2025 Outcomes: | Substantial reduction of achievement gaps between students in all categories. |
UT System Student Success Achievement Gaps based on 4-Year and 6-Year Graduation Rates
| Metric | Baseline |
|---|---|
| 6-yr grad rate | |
| Male vs Female | 61.2% Male vs 65.8% Female |
| Minority* vs Non-Minority *American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or multi-racial. | 56.9% Minority vs 64.2% Non-Minority |
| Pell recipient vs Non-Pell recipient | 53.1% Pell vs. 68.0% Non-Pell |
| First-gen vs Non-first gen | TBD |
| Rural vs Urban | TBD |
| 2025 Outcomes: | Substantial reduction of achievement gaps between students in all categories. |
Objective 1.2.5
UT students throughout the UT System feel a sense of mattering and belonging.
UT Students Sense of Mattering and Belonging
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 52% in Fall 2020 | TBD |
Goal 1.3
Elevate UT’s national reputation for educational excellence and academic innovation.
(FY 2021 – 2025)
Objective 1.3.1
Increase graduate and professional enrollment and the number of graduate and professional degrees awarded.
Graduate & Professional Enrollment
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 10,993 (AY20) | 11,600 |
Graduate and Professional Degrees Awarded at the UT System
| Baseline | 2025 Outcome |
|---|---|
| 3,655 (AY20) | 4,000 |