The University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin or UTM) is a public university in Martin, Tennessee. It is one of the five campuses of the University of Tennessee system. UTM is the only public university in West Tennessee outside of Memphis.
UTM operates a large experimental farm and several satellite centers in West Tennessee.
Former name
|
University of Tennessee Junior College (1927–1951) University of Tennessee, Martin Branch (1951–1967) |
---|---|
Motto | “Elevate your future at UT Martin” |
Type | Public university |
Established | 1927 |
Parent institution
|
UT System |
Endowment | $51 million (2021) |
Chancellor | Yancy E. Freeman |
Administrative staff
|
835 |
Students | 6,873 (Fall 2022) |
Undergraduates | 6,170 (Fall 2022) |
Postgraduates | 703 (Fall 2022) |
Location |
Martin, Tennessee
, U.S.
|
Campus | Rural, 250 acres (100 ha) |
Colors | Navy blue and orange |
Nickname | Skyhawks |
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division I FCS – Ohio Valley Conference |
Mascot | Captain Skyhawk |
Website | www |
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Overview
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Type4-year • Public
-
Campus LifeMedium • Rural
-
Average Per Year After Aid$13K
-
SAT RangeNot available
-
Graduation Rate53%
University Of Tennessee Martin is a medium, 4-year, public university. This coed college is located in a large town in a rural setting and is primarily a residential campus. It offers certificate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. This college has an acceptance rate of 87% and a graduation rate of 53%.
From the Institution
Contact Information
-
554 University St, Martin, TN 38238
-
(731) 881-7020
-
utm.edu
History
Although UT Martin dates from 1927, it is not the first educational institution to use the current site. In 1900, Ada Gardner Brooks donated a site on what was then the outskirts of Martin to the Tennessee Baptist Convention for the purposes of opening a school.
The school opened as the Hall-Moody Institute, named for two locally prominent Baptist ministers – John Newton Hall and Joseph Burnley Moody. It originally offered 13 years of study, from elementary grades to the equivalent of the first years of collegiate work. The institute changed its name to Hall-Moody Normal School in 1917, as teacher training became its primary focus. Five years later, Hall-Moody changed its name again to Hall-Moody Junior College. Due to declining enrollment and financial difficulties in the mid-1920s, Hall-Moody Junior College was in danger of closing. In 1927, the Tennessee Baptist Convention made the decision to consolidate Hall-Moody with a similar institution, Union University, in nearby Jackson.
Upon hearing of the impending closure of the Hall-Moody campus, area civic and political leaders asked the state of Tennessee to step in and take over the former Hall-Moody facilities under the auspices of the University of Tennessee. University of Tennessee president Harcourt Morgan agreed to accept the proposition on the condition that the Martin community would acquire the property as well as space for expansion.
The City of Martin and Weakley County sold bonds to purchase the campus and some surrounding land. On February 10, 1927, Senate Bill Number 301 established the University of Tennessee Junior College in Martin. On March 29, it was officially approved by Governor Austin Peay. Hall-Moody closed for the last time on June 1, and the new UT Junior College began operations on September 2 with 120 students.
UT Martin nearly closed twice during its first quarter-century. During the hard times of the Great Depression, with tight state budgets and slow-growing enrollment that by 1933 had only increased slightly to 137 students, Tennessee slashed its annual budget by half to $36,000. Support from UT acting president James Hoskins kept UT Martin alive but could not save chief executive Porter Claxton’s position.
Though enrollment had surpassed 400 students by 1937, many college-age males enlisted in World War II a few years later. Executive officer Paul Meek repurposed a 1940 program training Army Air Corps pilots into a program training naval air cadets. Each cadet brought nine times as much income to UT Martin as a civilian student.
A post-war influx of returning servicemen and the G.I. Bill ushered in rapid growth both in enrollment and educational offerings. In 1951, with the addition of four-year fields of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, it was redesignated the University of Tennessee Martin Branch (UTMB).
In 1961, UTMB was the first campus in the University of Tennessee system to begin racial desegregation of undergraduates. (Graduate schools at other campuses had begun desegregation in 1952.)
Until 1967, it was treated as an off-site department of the main campus in Knoxville. As such, its presiding officer was known first as an executive officer (1927–1951), then a dean (1951–1967). In 1967, it was granted equal status with the main campus in Knoxville under its current name, and its presiding officer was granted the title of chancellor. The school grew greatly from the post-World War II era, largely under the influence of the G. I. Bill of Rights, through the 1960s under the leadership of Paul Meek, who led the school from 1934 to 1967. The school had almost as many entering freshmen in 1969 as it had overall students in 1961. Enrollment as of 2017 is listed at approximately 6,800.
Admissions
-
Acceptance Rate87%
-
Regular Application DueNot available
-
SAT RangeNot available*
-
ACT Range19–24*
By the Numbers
These ranges reflect what most admitted students scored, but many are outside these ranges.
GPA Range
SAT Range
SAT Information is not available for this college
ACT Composite Range*
- 13619–24
-
Total Applicants5,199
-
Admitted4,540
-
Enrolled1,118
Application Requirements
- High School GPA: Required
- High School Rank: Neither required nor recommended
- College Prep Courses: Required
- SAT/ACT Scores: Required for some
- Recommendations: Neither required nor recommended
Application Process
$30
- Online through college’s own website
- Common Application
Chancellors
- C. Porter Claxton (executive officer, 1927–1934)
- Paul Meek (executive officer, 1934–1951; dean, 1951–1967, chancellor, 1967)
- Archie R. Dykes (chancellor, 1967–1971)
- Larry T. McGehee (chancellor, 1971–1979)
- Charles E. Smith (chancellor, 1980–1985)
- Margaret N. Perry (chancellor, 1986–1997)
- Philip W. Conn (chancellor, 1998–2000)
- Nick Dunagan (chancellor, 2001–2007)
- Thomas A. Rakes (chancellor, 2007–2015)
- Robert M. Smith (chancellor, 2015–2016)
- Keith S. Carver Jr. (chancellor, 2017–2/2023; Dr. Philip A. Cavalier, interim, March – August 2023)
- Yancy E. Freeman (chancellor, effective 8/9/23)
Academics
Given its rural location, much of the focus of the school has been on undergraduate studies in education and agriculture, although many other courses of study are offered, particularly in the liberal arts, and in recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on business, engineering, and music.
There is an active ROTC program and a school of nursing. The school is among the top providers of candidates to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. There is a growing graduate school, with most graduate degrees being conferred in education and business.
The university is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For one year, from December 2015 until December 2016, the university was on probation for “falling short of standards related to evidence of institutional effectiveness and general education competencies.”
During the tenure of Dr. Robert Smith, UT Martin successfully met the challenge and was removed from probation. For this and other accomplishments during his 19 months as interim chancellor, the UT Board of Trustees honored Dr. Smith by removing the designation “interim” and officially named him the university’s tenth chancellor. He was also granted the honorary title “chancellor emeritus.”
U.S. News & World Report in its 2024 edition ranked the university tied for #27 in Regional Universities South.[16]
Colleges and departments
- College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
- College of Business and Global Affairs
- College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences
- College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
- College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Rankings
Academic rankings | |
---|---|
Regional | |
U.S. News & World Report[17] | 20 (tie) |
Academics Details
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Graduation Rate53%
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Majors Available36
-
Student-to-Faculty Ratio15:1
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Retention Rate73%
AP Credit Policy
An applicant may gain credit hours though AP and/or CLEP examinations. Applicants who take the AP Examinations will receive credit for the introductory sequence in certain disciplines (up to eight semester hours) if they score a three, four or five. Applicants who score at or above the minimum score established by the university for credit will be awarded the amount of credit for general and subject exams as set by the university.
Students will receive a grade of ‘P’ in these classes. A qualified applicant may apply a maximum of 30 semester hours credit for previous non-college learning and/or examination toward a degree. Credits earned by examination do not count toward UT Martin hours, nor toward four-year institutional hours.
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Offers credits
Yes
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Offers placement into advanced courses
Yes
AP Courses | Min Score Required | Number of Credits | Course Equivalent |
---|---|---|---|
2-D Art and Design | 4 | Not available | ART 120 |
3-D Art and Design | 4 | Not available | ART 130 |
Art History | 3 | Not available | ARTH 210-211 |
Biology | 3 | Not available | BIOL 110-120 |
4 | Not available | BIOL 130-140 | |
Calculus AB | 3 | Not available | MATH 251 |
Calculus BC | 3 | Not available | MATH 251 |
4 | Not available | MATH 251-252 | |
Chemistry | 4 | Not available | CHEM 121-122 |
Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | Not available | POSC 341 |
Computer Science A | 4 | Not available | CSCI 221 |
Computer Science Principles | 4 | Not available | CSCI 220 |
Drawing | 4 | Not available | ART 140-150 |
English Language and Composition | 3 | Not available | ENGL 111 |
4 | Not available | ENGL 111-112 | |
English Literature and Composition | 3 | Not available | ENGL 111 |
4 | Not available | ENGL 111-112 | |
Environmental Science | 3 | Not available | ESCI LD |
European History | 3 | Not available | HIST LD |
French Language and Culture | 3 | Not available | FREN 341 |
4 | Not available | FREN 341-342 | |
German Language and Culture | 3 | Not available | GERM 341 |
4 | Not available | GERM 341-342 | |
Human Geography | 3 | Not available | GEOG 202 |
Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | Not available | JAPN 341 |
4 | Not available | JAPN 341-342 | |
Latin | 3 | Not available | LATIN LD |
Macroeconomics | 3 | Not available | ECON 201 |
Microeconomics | 3 | Not available | ECON 202 |
Physics 1 | 4 | Not available | PHYS 211 |
Physics 2 | 4 | Not available | PHYS 212 |
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | Not available | PHYS 221 |
Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | Not available | PHYS 220 |
Pre-Calculus | 3 | Not available | MATH 185 |
Psychology | 3 | Not available | PSYC 101 |
Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | Not available | SPAN 111 |
4 | Not available | SPAN 122 | |
5 | Not available | SPAN 222 | |
Statistics | 3 | Not available | MATH 210 |
United States Government and Politics | 3 | Not available | POSC 210 |
United States History | 3 | Not available | HIST 201-202 |
World History: Modern | 3 | Not available | HIST 121-122 |
Study Options
Majors and Degrees
The college offers the following degrees: Certificate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s
-
A
- Accounting
- Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations
- Agricultural Business and Management, General
- Agriculture, General
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B
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Business/Managerial Economics
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C
- Chemistry, General
- Computer Science
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
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E
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General
- Engineering, General
- English Language and Literature, General
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, General
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F
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
- Finance, General
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G
- Geology/Earth Science, General
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H
- History, General
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I
- International Relations and Affairs
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M
- Management Information Systems, General
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
- Mathematics, General
- Music, General
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P
- Philosophy
- Political Science and Government, General
- Psychology, General
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R
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
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S
- Secondary Education and Teaching
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish Language and Literature
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General
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T
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
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V
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
Special Academics Program
- Accelerated Study
- Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities
- Cross-Registration
- Distance Learning
- Double Major
- Dual Enrollment of High School Students
- Honors Program
- Independent Study
- Internships
- ROTC, Army
- Student-Designed Major
- Study Abroad
- Teacher Certification
- Undergraduate Research
Need Help Choosing a Major?
Keep in mind most colleges don’t require students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year, and many students change majors at least once.
Special Academics Program
- Accelerated Study
- Comprehensive transition and postsecondary program for students with intellectual disabilities
- Cross-Registration
- Distance Learning
- Double Major
- Dual Enrollment of High School Students
- Honors Program
- Independent Study
- Internships
- ROTC, Army
- Student-Designed Major
- Study Abroad
- Teacher Certification
- Undergraduate Research
Campus
The rural campus is noted for being particularly scenic and well-landscaped. Students who live on campus are within walking distance of all academic buildings, the library, food services, the Boling University Center, and all recreational and sports facilities. Recent years have seen the demolition of old double-occupancy dormitory halls in favor of the construction of apartment-style housing.
UT Martin is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to the second annual edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 311 Green Colleges: 2011 Edition. UT Martin is one of three public institutions in Tennessee included in the guide. UT Martin is also among the safest public college campuses in Tennessee based on crime statistics released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
UT Martin also has five centers throughout West Tennessee.
- Jackson
- Parsons
- Ripley
- Selmer
- Somerville
Costs
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Average Per Year After Aid$12,619
-
Students Receiving Financial Aid70%
-
Average Aid Package$14,723
-
Financial Aid Application DueNot available
Tuition
Average Net Price by Household Income
<$30k
$9,005 per year
$30-48k
$10,351 per year
$48-75k
$13,585 per year
$75-110k
$16,192 per year
$110k+
$16,573 per year
Sticker Price
In-State Tuition
$8,802 per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$14,842 per year
Other Costs
Housing
$7,544 per year
Books and Supplies
$1,500 per year
Personal Expenses
$3,600 per year
Transportation
$1,000 per year
Financial Aid
Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.
Distribution Details
-
Students Receiving Financial Aid
70%
-
Freshmen With Need and Received Financial Aid
69%
-
Percent of Need Met
41%
Aid Package Details
-
Average Aid Packages Awarded
$14,723
-
Need-Based Scholarship or Grant Award
Scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back.
$8,238
-
Need-Based Loan Amount
Loans must be paid back.
$4,208
-
Non-Need-Based Aid
$2,091
-
Debt at Graduation
The typical amount of loans a student must pay back.
$22,233
Tuition Guarantee Plans
Tuition at time of first enrollment guaranteed only to students making advance payment
Financial Aid Dates
The last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.
Applications received prior to this date will be given the strongest consideration. Still apply for financial aid if you don’t make this due date.
When students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering.
The deadline for students to respond to the college’s aid offer.
Athletics
The UT Martin athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
The school’s teams are known as the Skyhawks; the team colors are navy blue, orange, and white; and the mascot is Captain Skyhawk.
Athletic teams have participated in the Ohio Valley Conference since 1991. Previously, UTM was a member of the Gulf South Conference.
The university mascot was changed from “Pacers” to “Skyhawks” in 1995. The reasoning behind the “Skyhawks” moniker was described thus:
- The first educational institution on the site of UT Martin was Hall-Moody Bible Institute. The school’s athletic teams were called “sky pilots”, a frontier term for preachers in that day, but perhaps the students were thinking of the glamorous flying aces of World War I.
- During World War II, UT Junior College contracted with the Naval War Training Service to help train pilots, who completed their flight training at an airport located on the current site of Westview High School.
- Red-tail hawks are indigenous to the West Tennessee region.
Prior to being known as “Pacers”, the university’s teams were called “Volunteers”. The name was changed in 1971, largely because, on account of the former junior college status of the school, the teams were often referred to as the “Baby Vols”.
Publications and media
Founded in 1928, The Pacer is the present day name of the student newspaper. The Office of Student Publications publishes The Pacer every Thursday morning throughout the semester except for holidays and exam periods. As of 2006, the newspaper has a circulation of 3,000 copies. In the spring of 2006, the publication won the distinction of being named “Best in the South” at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, beating out such schools as Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Throughout its history, the newspaper has also been named The Checkerboard and The Volette.
Beanswitch is a literary magazine run by UT Martin’s undergraduates. This magazine publishes non-fiction, fiction, and poetry, in addition to artwork. Each fall, an online edition is published. The spring edition is in print. Submissions are accepted from all students and from staff.
Radio
The campus radio station at the University of Tennessee at Martin has been named the nation’s Best Overall Radio Station (2012). The honor—the Abraham & Borst Award—was presented to WUTM at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference in New York. WUTM was also chosen Best College/University Station under 10,000 enrollment in both 2012 and 2016.
WUTM-FM was named 2015 “Best College Radio Station in the South”, the fifth time in seven years for the station to earn the award and earned a Platinum Award, the highest ranking, for the sixth consecutive year from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS).
Television
WLJT-TV was launched in the fall of 2015.
Student life
The campus is home to many student life organizations. It also is the location of the 1965 founding of the medical fraternity Mu Epsilon Delta. The Panhellenic sororities at UTM are Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ), Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ), Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA), and Chi Omega (ΧΩ). The IFC fraternities on campus are Alpha Gamma Rho (ΑΓΡ), Kappa Alpha Order (KA), Phi Sigma Kappa (ΦΣΚ), Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠΚΑ), Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ), Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦΕ), and Sigma Chi (ΣΧ). There are two music organizations on campus: Phi Mu Alpha (ΦΜΑ) and Sigma Alpha Iota (ΣΑΙ). Religious Life is also a part of student life at UT Martin: Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Church of Christ Student Center, and Wesley Foundation.
Campus Life
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SettingRural
-
Undergraduate Students4,601
-
Average Per Year for Campus Housing$7,544
-
SportsClub, Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division I and NCAA Division IAA
Housing
Average Housing Cost
$7,544 per year
First-Years in College Housing
66%
Extracurricular
Sports
The sports programs offered and athletic scholarships available are below.
-
Baseball
- Men’s: Intercollegiate, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Basketball
- Men’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Cheerleading
- Women’s: IntercollegiateOffers Scholarships
-
Cross-Country
- Men’s: Intercollegiate, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Equestrian
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Football
- Men’s: Intercollegiate, NCAA Division IAAOffers Scholarships
-
Football (Non-Tackle)
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intramural
-
Golf
- Men’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
- Women’s: Intramural
-
Judo
- Men’s: Club
- Women’s: Club
-
Racquetball
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intramural
-
Rifle
- Coed: NCAA Division I
- Men’s: IntercollegiateOffers Scholarships
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Rodeo
- Men’s: IntercollegiateOffers Scholarships
- Women’s: IntercollegiateOffers Scholarships
-
Rugby
- Men’s: Club
- Women’s: Club
-
Soccer
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Softball
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Table Tennis
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intramural
-
Tennis
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Track And Field
- Men’s: Intercollegiate
- Women’s: Intercollegiate
-
Track: Indoor
- Men’s: NCAA Division I
- Women’s: NCAA Division I
-
Track: Outdoor
- Men’s: NCAA Division I
- Women’s: NCAA Division I
-
Ultimate Frisbee
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intramural
-
Volleyball
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intercollegiate, Intramural, NCAA Division IOffers Scholarships
-
Volleyball (Sand)
- Women’s: Intercollegiate
-
Water Polo
- Men’s: Intramural
- Women’s: Intramural
Student Body
-
Total Undergrad Students
4,601
-
Total Graduate Students
707
-
Full-Time Students
4,286
-
Part-Time Students
1,946
Race and Ethnicity
-
Black or African American
13%
-
Asian
1%
-
Hispanic or Latino
5%
-
Multiracial
4%
-
Native American
Less than 1%
-
Pacific Islander
Less than 1%
-
Unknown
Less than 1%
-
White
77%
-
International (Non-Citizen)
Less than 1%
Student Primary Residence
-
Out-of-State
10%
Notable alumni

- Gin Cooley (2016) professional model, Canadian film festival winner, singer-songwriter and human rights advocate
- Elizabeth Donald (1997) journalist and horror novelist
- Lin Dunn (1969) head coach of the 2012 WNBA Champions Indiana Fever
- Doc Gamble (1995) University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff head Football coach
- Leonard Hamilton (1971) Florida State Seminoles head basketball coach
- Roy Herron (1975) Chairman for Tennessee Democratic Party and former State Senator
- Andy Holt (2007) U.S. politician who serves in the Tennessee General Assembly, representing District 76
- Lester Hudson (2009) Former Memphis Grizzlies point guard
- Montori Hughes (2013) Nose tackle for the Indianapolis Colts
- Ed Jones (1932) Commissioner of Agriculture of Tennessee 1949–1953 and a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1969 to 1989
- Van Jones (1990) attorney and internationally recognized civil and human rights advocate
- Alec Mills (2012) Chicago Cubs pitcher
- Jerry Reese (1985) general manager of the New York Giants
- William C. Rhodes (1987) president and CEO of AutoZone, Inc.
- Ron Roberts (1990) Southeastern Louisiana University head football coach
- John Stevens (1996) Tennessee State Senator representing District 24
- Pat Summitt (1974) Tennessee Lady Vols head basketball coach, all-time leader for games won among NCAA Division I basketball coaches (men’s or women’s). The court in the basketball arena and a street on campus are named for Summitt.
- Fred Thomas (1996) Former New Orleans Saints cornerback