The Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee finished No. 54 on Poets&Quants’ 2025 ranking of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs in the U.S. In our three methodological categories, it finished No. 56 in Admission Standards, No. 66 in Career Outcomes, and No. 29 in Academic Experience (based solely on our alumni survey).
The B-school’s acceptance rate for the fall 2024 incoming class was 31.2%, and the class also reported an average SAT score of 1275. Its six-year graduation rate is 74.8%.
In career data, 83% of Class of 2023 and 2024 graduates completed at least one business-specific internship before graduation. Some 89.6% of 2024 grads found jobs within three months, compared to 90.8% of 2023 grads.
Average salary for the most recent graduates was $61,507, with 31% of them reporting an average signing bonus of $5,619. The top employers included Axle Logistics, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, Dell, 21st Mortgage Corporation, Oracle, Amazon, J.B. Hunt Transport, Pilot Company, Techtronic Industries, and Alliance Bernstein.
INTEGRATED EDUCATION
The Haslam Undergraduate Business (HUB) unit provides a holistic, student-centered approach designed to enhance professional development, student engagement, and leadership growth. Students take part in the Professional Leadership course series (BUAD 100, 200, 300, and 405), which reinforces the college’s four key pillars: Integrity, Inclusion, Insight, and Impact.
Haslam undergraduates can choose from the following business majors: Accounting, Business Analytics, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, Public Administration, and Supply Chain Management.
Where Haslam really shines, however, is its integrated program offerings. The B-school recently partnered with the Tickle College of Engineering to offer the Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Program, a three-year program that allows students to graduate with a special concentration. The integrated program features a number of cohort-based projects and unique extracurricular activities such as an Executive Mentor Program and company site visits to organizations such as Oak Ridge National Laboratories and Amazon Fulfillment Center.
For those interested in government and nonprofit enterprises, the Public Administration program combines a general business education with specific courses in the economic and political aspects of government policies. Students can choose electives to focus their expertise on.
As a public land-grant institution, Haslam prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, admitting students under the same standards as the broader university and ensuring that Tennessee residents have strong pathways into business education.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS
The Greg and Lisa Smith Global Leadership Scholars (GLS) is the official honors program at Haslam. GLS students pursue a collateral or concentration in international business with whichever business major they declare. The GLS curriculum consists of honors courses and a set of leadership training seminars in their second, third, and fourth years. One of the biggest benefits of the program is the access that students have to strong mentorship.
The GLS program is a prime example of the strong leadership development at Haslam. Students are not only given direct leadership training and mentorship through seminars but are also exposed to the global component of leadership through the London internship. In turn, Haslam students are taught to lead with a solid understanding of global business.
Haslam also offers First-Year Study Abroad experiences in Costa Rica and Cuba, giving students an introduction to international business and cultural fluency.
REAL-WORLD CAPSTONE
Haslam’s senior capstone experience brings together the cumulative business education into one project. Student teams take part in a business simulation and run a business throughout the semester. The capstone experience simulates what working in the real world is like as students are challenged to collaborate and overcome differences to effectively run their business.
Haslam has introduced several strategic initiatives to enhance student learning, career preparation, and global engagement. The Business Fellows program has expanded to provide more students with access to honors education, offering both curricular and co-curricular support to high-achieving business students. The launch of the JTV Center for Applied Business Analytics equips students with hands-on training in real-world data analysis, ensuring they graduate with highly sought-after analytical and business intelligence skills. Additionally, the college has introduced a new International Business major, a double-major program that requires an advanced foreign language component and a semester abroad, preparing students to navigate the complexities of global business environments.
Haslam has also taken steps to bridge the gap between athletics and business education with the expansion of Name-Image-Likeness (NIL) courses in partnership with UT Athletics, helping student-athletes learn how to monetize and manage their personal brands. Recognizing the growing importance of project management skills, the school developed a Project Management course that includes preparation for PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
To improve accessibility and flexibility, Haslam has introduced two hybrid studio classrooms, allowing students to participate in synchronous online learning with adaptable scheduling. Additionally, the online degree completion program, launching in Fall 2024, provides a pathway for transfer students from Tennessee Board of Regents institutions who have completed 60 credit hours and an associate degree to earn a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Management and a concentration in Sales.
ALUMNI SAY
“Haslam required a semester long project where you worked with a group of assigned team members to run a virtual bike shop. Inherently, you had to work with a variety of personalities, just as you would in real-life work experiences. I felt like the emphasis of the class was to work on soft skills.”
“I was involved in several signature experiences. One was the Haslam student advisory council where I collaborated with students and business school leadership to improve student life and engagement. Another was being the only student on the building committee, a committee divided to design the new Haslam business school building. I was able to participate in decisions regarding design, functionality, and student desires for the new building. Now, being 2 years post grad, they are currently building that building.”
“Cannot say enough about the faculty employees at UTK. Whether it was helping in understanding material being taught or giving advice, the faculty was always there to lend a helping hand”
“I am still heavily involved with Haslam College of Business 3 years after graduation due to the genuine relationships the college helps build with professors. I come back to campus for recruiting more business students from UTK because they often have great success in the industry after graduating.”
