Out-of-state tuition WAIVED for Honors College students; regional rate for GA/AL counties
Regional students (certain AL & GA counties) pay reduced rate
Scholarship criteria and merit amounts are based on UTC’s 2025–26 listings and may change yearly. Always verify with UTC’s Financial Aid Office.
Last verified: October 2025
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers strong automatic and renewable scholarships for first-time freshmen, along with tuition waivers and Honors College benefits for top students. While there are no guaranteed full rides, high-achieving applicants can qualify for the Chancellor’s or Provost’s Scholarships and additional funding through the Brock Scholars Honors College.
Use this guide to see how UTC awards merit aid, what deadlines to meet, and how Honors College eligibility can help lower out-of-state costs.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — UTC is test-optional, but strong ACT/SAT scores may improve merit eligibility.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 21–26; SAT: 1030–1240 (UTC Admissions 2024).
What’s the average net price? $13,801 (per latest published data).
Does this school offer reciprocity or nonresident waivers? Yes — UTC grants out-of-state tuition waivers for Honors College students and offers regional-rate discounts for eligible Georgia and Alabama county students.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Expense
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees
$10,448
$18,512
Housing & Meals
$12,604
$12,604
Total (before aid)
$28,552
$36,616
Note: This table includes only the expenses billed directly to the university (tuition & mandatory fees, plus on-campus housing and meals). Other costs not paid directly to the university include books & supplies (~$1,400/year), transportation (~$2,300/year), personal/miscellaneous (~$1,800/year) for full-time on-campus students. These are included in the official COA totals but listed separately here for clarity.
Average Net Price: For 2023–24, families paid about $13,801 on average after grants and scholarships (for full-time freshmen).
Regional & Reciprocity Discounts:
Regional Tuition Discount: Students from select North Georgia and North Alabama counties may pay a reduced out-of-state surcharge and thus significantly lower cost.
Academic Common Market (ACM): Residents of other SREB states may qualify for in-state rates for specific majors not offered in their home state at UTC.
eRate: Non-residents taking only online courses may qualify for a special reduced tuition rate.
Example: The standard out-of-state surcharge is ~$8,064. Students from eligible counties receiving the regional rate save thousands each year.
FAQ on Reciprocity & Discounts
Who qualifies? Tennessee residents always pay in-state rates. Certain North Georgia and Alabama counties qualify for the regional discount, while other SREB states may utilise the ACM for specific majors.
How much can you save? Regional students can save around ~$8,000 each year compared to the full out-of-state rate; ACM students effectively pay the in-state amount.
Do you have to apply? Regional discounts are automatic for eligible counties upon admission and registration. The ACM requires an application via the home state coordinator. The eRate applies only if you enrol exclusively in online classes.
Do I need a separate application? Yes. All students must complete the UTC Online Scholarship Application by December 1 (priority) or February 1 (final) to be considered for institutional merit awards; admission by itself is not enough.
Does UTC superscore the ACT? Yes. UTC will use your highest ACT or SAT section scores across all test dates to calculate your composite for scholarship consideration.
Are test scores required? UTC allows test-optional applications. However, submitting high ACT/SAT scores could result in higher scholarship award tiers.
Can I stack these with other aid? You cannot stack multiple UTC renewable merit awards, but you can combine these with state HOPE, Pell, and most outside scholarships, up to the cost of attendance.
UTC does not currently list any additional competitive, university-wide scholarships beyond the automatic merit and service-based awards already covered. Departmental and Honors-specific awards will be detailed in their own sections below.
Scholarship
Award Amount
Eligibility
Separate App?
Renewable?
Who Actually Wins?
Deadline
No university-level competitive scholarships listed at this time
FAQ on Competitive Scholarships
Does UTC offer full-ride competitive scholarships? No. UTC’s largest scholarships are its automatic merit and service-based awards, which are detailed earlier on this page.
Where do competitive opportunities exist? The most selective awards at UTC are within the Honors College or major departments. Please see the Honors and Departmental sections for requirements and deadlines.
Should families still check for updates? Yes. UTC sometimes introduces new competitive donor or cohort programs, so it is important to check the UTC scholarships portal and Honors College site every fall for updates.
In-state students with qualifying GPA/test; GAMS for 3.75+ GPA & 29 ACT; Aspire for AGI ≤ $36k
Sept. 1 (fall); Feb. 1 (spring/summer)
UT Promise (Last-Dollar Aid)
Covers tuition & mandatory fees after other aid
TN residents; Pell-eligible; full-time; mentoring & service required
Yes — UT Promise app + FAFSA
Yes — ongoing FAFSA + service
Pell-eligible TN students who meet mentoring and service requirements
July 1 (fall); Dec. 1 (spring)
Army ROTC Scholarships (Mocs Battalion)
Full tuition (or room/board), book stipend, $420/mo allowance
Meet Army academic, medical, and fitness standards; service obligation
Yes — ROTC board application
Yes — 2–4 years with ROTC progress
Students with strong academics/fitness and leadership willing to serve as Army officers
Oct. 14, Jan. 20, Mar. 17 (national board cycles)
CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS)
Full tuition + stipend ($25k–$34k) + travel
U.S. citizens in UTC cyber pathways; agree to federal/state service
Yes — UTC SFS application
Yes — multi-year with GPA/performance
High-achieving cybersecurity/IT majors with federal career plans
July 1 (fall); Nov. 1 (spring)
Study Abroad Scholarships (UTC + Gilman)
UTC grants vary; Gilman up to $5,000 (+$3,000 for languages)
UTC students approved for study abroad; Pell favored for Gilman
Yes — UTC Global Ed or Gilman portal
One-time awards
Students planning ahead, especially Pell for Gilman
April 1 (summer); May 1 (fall); Nov. 1 (spring)
UT Alumni Association Scholarships
$1,000–$3,000/yr depending on fund
Incoming/current UTC students; leadership, service, or alumni ties
Yes — UTC scholarship portal
Yes — if GPA and service maintained
Leadership-oriented and service students; some funds for juniors/seniors
Feb. 1 (most funds); Sept. 1 (fall)
Marching Mocs Music Awards
Performance Grants (~$500–$1,500); Service $200–$800; Named awards vary
Music majors and non-majors; audition and Marching Mocs participation
Yes — via Music Department
Yes — annual re-audition or participation
Selected through auditions; section needs influence awards
March 28 (video audition); April 12 (live audition)
Award amounts and deadlines reflect UTC’s most recent published criteria for 2025–26. Audition and application deadlines may vary—double check with UTC’s scholarship or music office each term.
Departmental and private awards may have other deadlines.
The First-Gen Mocs program offers support but not standalone scholarships.
Stacking: State grants (e.g., HOPE, Aspire) and UT Promise can stack with UTC merit up to cost of attendance; ROTC/CyberCorps follow federal aid stacking rules. Confirm with Financial Aid each year.
Hidden Gems FAQ
Do these require separate applications? Most require campus or external applications separate from UTC admission, and dates can vary.
When are the most common deadlines? FAFSA/HOPE: Sept. 1; UT Promise: July 1 (fall), Dec. 1 (spring); ROTC: match national board windows; CyberCorps: July 1/Nov. 1; Study Abroad: April 1 (summer), May 1 (fall), Nov. 1 (spring); Alumni: Feb. 1/Sept. 1; Band: March 28/April 12.
Can I stack with UTC merit aid? In most cases, yes, but always check how tuition-designated scholarships are packaged with need and external aid.
UTC’s Honors College isn’t just about smaller classes—it’s designed to give motivated students a pathway to research, mentorship, and community impact. Admission is by application, and each program has its own emphasis, from interdisciplinary projects to cohort-based leadership development.
What a Typical UTC Honors Student Looks Like
High school GPA above 3.7, strong ACT/SAT scores if submitted (often ACT 28+), a rigorous course load, and a track record of leadership or service. Essays and interviews weigh heavily in selection.
Perks That Matter
Priority registration each semester
Honors housing and close-knit cohort community
Small, discussion-based seminars with faculty mentors
Funding for research, study abroad, and special projects
Capstone or thesis opportunities that build graduate school and career readiness
Scholarship
Award Amount
Eligibility
Separate App?
Renewable?
Who Actually Wins?
Deadline
William E. Brock, Jr. Scholarship
$1,000 per semester (up to 8 semesters)
Admitted to Brock Scholars Program (Honors College flagship for freshmen)
Highly selective Honors freshmen with strong academics, essays, and leadership/service
Jan. 21
Honors Academic Merit (HAM) Scholarship
$500 per semester
Admitted transfer or current UTC student in Innovations in Honors track
Yes — Innovations in Honors application
Yes — maintain Honors participation
Upper-level students joining through transfer or after first year at UTC
July 1
Odyssey Grants: Competitive funding for study abroad, internships, or research beyond Chattanooga; deadlines vary by proposal (usually rolling or prior to travel).
Tucker Foundation Endowed Honors College Scholarship: For Honors students in Biology/Environmental Science with undergraduate research; internal UTC deadlines, check each term.
Out-of-State Tuition Waiver: All Honors students from outside TN pay in-state rates; eligible upon Honor admission (apply by Jan. 21 for Brock, July 1 for Innovations).
Annual Cultural Stipend: Modest stipend for attending cultural events; awarded each academic year (no extra application; confirm during orientation).
Conference & Travel Funding: Applications vary by opportunity throughout the year.
FAQ on UTC Honors College
Is admission automatic if I meet GPA or test score minimums? No. All Honors College pathways require supplementary materials: a separate application, essays, recommendations, and often an interview.
Does Honors add time to my degree? No. Honors courses are integrated into program plans to support four-year graduation.
When should I apply? First-year applicants: apply by Jan. 21 for Brock Scholars. Transfers/current students: apply for Innovations/HAM by July 1.
Are there extra scholarships tied to Honors? Yes—these include Brock and HAM, Odyssey Grants, and competitive discipline-specific funds. Funding for research, study abroad, and creative endeavors is generally accessed after admission to Honors.
UTC has carved out a reputation as a hands-on, industry-connected campus. While it’s not one of the state’s R1 research universities, it punches above its weight in applied fields—especially where Chattanooga’s “Gig City” tech infrastructure and strong local partnerships come into play. Parents often find that UTC’s strengths lie in programs that feed directly into regional workforce needs while still giving students nationally recognized opportunities.
Top Program Spotlight: Cybersecurity
UTC is a federally recognized National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through 2028 and one of just a handful of universities nationwide funded for the NSF’s CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service. Students graduate straight into federal and state cyber workforce pipelines.
Engineering & Computer Science: UTC’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is home to the SimCenter (high-performance computing) and the Center for Energy, Transportation & the Environment, giving students direct access to applied research and TVA partnerships.
Urban Informatics & Smart Cities: Through the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress, students work with city-scale sensor networks powered by Chattanooga’s 10–25 Gbps fiber, a nationally recognized testbed for traffic safety and energy research.
Business (Rollins College of Business): Consistently ranked among the top regional business schools in the South (AACSB accredited), with strong ties to Chattanooga’s logistics and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Nursing & Health Sciences: Well regarded statewide, with high NCLEX pass rates and strong placements in Tennessee’s hospital systems.
For many families, UTC strikes a balance between affordability and opportunity. With automatic scholarships, state programs like HOPE and UT Promise, and hidden gems such as ROTC and CyberCorps, there are multiple ways to bring the sticker price down. Pair those options with UTC’s Honors College perks and strong programs in cybersecurity, engineering, and health sciences, and students can graduate with less debt and more real-world experience. If you’re helping your student compare offers, remember that stacking aid is often the key—and UTC gives you several ways to make that possible.
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