UT System Freezes In-State Tuition at Key Campuses Amid Family Pressures

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved a $3.7 billion system-wide budget that holds the line on in-state undergraduate tuition at UT Knoxville, the state's flagship campus, sparing thousands of Tennessee residents from added expenses.[4] This decision, announced amid $40 million in federal funding cuts, contrasts with fee increases at Knoxville and tuition hikes at other campuses like UT Health Science Center in Memphis.[1][4] Board members, including those overseeing the 14-member panel, emphasized accessibility for Tennesseans during a period of economic strain highlighted by initial reporting from NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga.[4] At UT Knoxville, which commands $2.37 billion of the budget, in-state students avoid tuition increases, though mandatory fees will rise slightly to support operations.[4] UT Martin stands out as the only other campus dodging both tuition and fee hikes, providing relief in West Tennessee.[4] Meanwhile, UT Health Science Center proposes targeted increases for 2026-27, such as $215 for in-state Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene (from $10,745) and $271 for accelerated nursing (from $14,874 combined tuition and fees), set for board review February 26-27, 2026.[1] These changes stay below the Tennessee Higher Education Commission's 6.5% cap.[2] The freeze aligns with UT's commitment to Tennessee residents, including full-tuition scholarships at Knoxville and flat in-state rates of about $11,264 annually at UT Southern in Martin.[3][5] Public notices for 2025-26 proposals allowed comments until June 23, 2025, per state law requiring 15 days' notice.[2] As families in Chattanooga, Memphis and beyond grapple with costs, UT leaders hailed record fundraising to offset pressures, ensuring the system's land-grant mission endures.[4]