
The University of Tennessee at Martin traces its roots to a school established in Martin in 1900. Its present identity began to take shape in 1927, when the University of Tennessee acquired the campus of Hall-Moody Institute and opened the University of Tennessee Junior College.
The institution later became the University of Tennessee Martin Branch, reflecting its expansion beyond junior-college work. It received its current name in 1967. That progression - from a small local institution to a public university within the University of Tennessee System - helps explain why UT Martin combines a regional focus with bachelor's and graduate programs.
UT Martin organizes its academic programs into five colleges: Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Business and Global Affairs; Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences; Engineering and Natural Sciences; and Humanities and Fine Arts. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees across those areas, along with selected graduate degrees.
Examples of undergraduate fields include agriculture, business, computer science, engineering, nursing, teacher education, psychology, social work, music and the visual arts. The choice of major can affect more than a course schedule: nursing, teacher preparation and other professionally oriented programs may have separate admission, clinical, field-placement or licensing requirements. Applicants should check the requirements for the specific program they intend to enter, not just the university's general admission rules.
UT Martin's main campus is in Martin, a small city in northwest Tennessee. Its setting differs from that of an urban campus: students can expect a community closely connected to the university, but fewer nearby transportation choices than they might find in a large metropolitan area.
The university also serves students through regional and online offerings. A prospective student considering one of those options should verify where required classes, laboratories and student services are delivered; availability can differ by program. For main-campus students, a car may make travel around the region easier, and first-year students are permitted to register or park one on campus under university rules.
UT Martin describes its mission in terms of providing accessible undergraduate and graduate education, supporting scholarship and serving its region. As a public institution in the University of Tennessee System, it emphasizes teaching and opportunities to apply learning beyond the classroom.
That stated mission is useful context when comparing institutions: UT Martin offers both broad academic study and programs tied to professions important to Tennessee communities. A mission statement describes institutional priorities, however; it does not by itself establish the experience or outcome a particular student will have.
Name of the institution
The University of Tennessee-MartinLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Town: RemoteInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1900The University of Tennessee-Martin is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.