Acceptance Rate
72%
Avg. SAT
1180
75th percentile
“Vibrant public university in music-rich Memphis powering practical careers in business, engineering, and health sciences.”
Memphis, TN
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
The University of Memphis traces its roots to 1912, when it opened as West Tennessee State Normal School to train teachers, evolving through name changes into a comprehensive public research university serving over 19,000 undergraduates today. Students who thrive here lean practical and career-focused, often juggling classes with part-time jobs or family commitments in a diverse, first-generation-heavy environment. The campus pulses with Memphis energy—blues clubs and barbecue joints just blocks away—while the surrounding city's low cost of living makes it accessible, though humid summers and urban sprawl mean commuting can eat into free time.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
You'll dive into strengths like the Fogelman College of Business for logistics and supply chain management, Herff College of Engineering for civil and biomedical fields, and the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music amid Memphis's jazz legacy. Classrooms mix large introductory lectures with smaller upper-division seminars where professors emphasize real-world applications, often tying projects to local industries like FedEx. Research opportunities abound for motivated undergrads, but popular programs fill quickly, and the sheer size means you hunt for advising.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
15,770 undergrad • 4,506 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
38%
Black / African American
35%
Hispanic / Latino
9%
Asian
5%
Other / Multi-racial
13%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Memphis, TN
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week blends tailgates for Tigers basketball games, intramural sports, and nights out on Beale Street, with Greek life and over 250 clubs keeping things lively for those who seek them. Residential halls house about half of undergrads, fostering easy connections, though many commuters create a hustle of day students heading home by evening. The urban campus lacks a secluded quad feel, but proximity to Graceland and the Mississippi River offers off-campus adventures year-round, tempered by sticky heat.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
American Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
77%
4 Years Graduation Rate
43%
6 Years Graduation Rate
58%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$48,458
77% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of Memphis and return in the fall. 43% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 58% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
43%
4-5 years
15%
6-8 years
2%
Non-grad
40%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$8,352
Acceptance
72%
Undergrads
15,770
4-Year Grad Rate
43%
Endowment
$341M
Memphis, TN 38152
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