Finance and Financial Management Services at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

UT-Knoxville's finance program delivers something rare: strong first-year outcomes that accelerate rather than plateau. Starting at $53,826, graduates see earnings jump 27% to $68,331 by year four—a trajectory that suggests these students are landing roles with genuine advancement potential rather than dead-end analyst positions. Among Tennessee's 21 finance programs, this ranks 60th percentile for earnings while outperforming peer state schools like Memphis ($44,395) and Tennessee Tech ($41,176) by substantial margins.

The $23,250 debt load translates to a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. That's manageable by any standard and provides breathing room for young professionals building careers in banking, corporate finance, or investment management. The program essentially tracks national medians across both earnings and debt, which at a flagship state university represents solid value—you're getting outcomes comparable to the national market at in-state tuition rates.

The admission selectivity (46% acceptance, 1304 SAT) suggests UT-Knoxville attracts capable students who can compete for better opportunities, which likely contributes to that healthy earnings trajectory. For Tennessee families, this program offers a straightforward value proposition: competitive starting salaries that grow meaningfully, reasonable debt, and outcomes that outpace most in-state alternatives.