The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, known for its orange-clad spirit and passionate Volunteers, has made its way onto the Princeton Review's annual list of Top 50 Best Value Colleges for 2025, as a recent report on the school's website confirms. This honor is designated to UT for the first time, outshining other Tennessee institutions by snagging the singular spot on the famed list in 2025.
In a nod to the hardworking administration and faculty, UT's Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, John Zomchick, remarked on this accomplishment to UT’s news portal, "Being named one of Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges highlights UT’s deep commitment to academic excellence, affordability and strong career outcomes." This recognition, in Zomchick’s view, mirrors the continuous enhancement of the value associated with being a Volunteer for Life.
The selection criteria were no small feat – the Princeton Review based its assessment on comprehensive data from surveys of administrators at over 650 colleges during 2024 and 2025. The factors were numerous, targeting three broad areas: academics, affordability, and career preparation. UT's ROI (return on investment) rating clocked in at an impressive 89 out of 99, according to the university's statement.
Beyond administrative feedback, the Princeton Review also incorporated data from student surveys and PayScale's alumni surveys. These included metrics around starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction. On the campus side, UT is lauded for not only its academics but also a student body vibrator with Volunteer pride and a campus life that doesn't shy away from support, with students highlighting the "countless centers to help students succeed and feel at home," such as the Academic Success Center.
"The schools on our Best Value Colleges lists this year are truly exceptional," said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of the Princeton Review. In a statement, he emphasized, "They offer outstanding academics and excellent career services. They also demonstrate extraordinary commitments to affordability via generous financial aid and/or comparatively low sticker prices. We commend them for all that they do to help students afford to attend them and we recommend them highly to college applicants."
