Johnson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Knoxville, Tennessee. It enrolls 743 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes40
Value14
Affordability53
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 65.1%, Johnson University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
65.1%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
960 – 1110
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Johnson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Johnson University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,063 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,063
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$21,122
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,900
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,826
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,576
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,573
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,244
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,246
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,212
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,206
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,075
Over $110,000
$24,860
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,93010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$33,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,750
↓ $7,750
No Pell $13,500
↓ $8,000
Dependent students $12,500
↓ $9,000
Independent students $16,866
↓ $4,634
Female students $14,000
↓ $7,500
Male students $12,250
↓ $9,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
30% of full-time students who enrolled at Johnson University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
30%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Johnson University earn a median of $40,596 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,596
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$26,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$31,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$31,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$32,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Johnson University is home to 743 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
743
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.3%530
International 9.0%67
Hispanic 6.7%50
Black 6.1%45
Other 2.7%20
Asian 1.2%9
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Johnson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeKnoxville, Tennessee
Housing
Strongly residential776 beds for 743 students
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Johnson University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$198M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,479
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
38 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
24
63%
$58,005
Associate Professors
10
26%
$53,134
Assistant Professors
3
8%
$47,541
Instructors
1
3%
$42,111
Pros & Cons of Johnson University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Johnson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Johnson University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Johnson University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Johnson University.
Is Johnson University hard to get into?
Admissions at Johnson University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 65.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Johnson University?
Johnson University has an acceptance rate of 65.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Johnson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Johnson University scored between 960 and 1110 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Johnson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Johnson University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Johnson University cost?
The average net price after aid at Johnson University is $22,063 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Johnson University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,596 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,063 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Johnson University known for?
Johnson University is best known for its programs in Bible/Biblical Studies, Theology, Philosophy. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Johnson University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Johnson University are $40,596, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Johnson University accredited?
Yes. Johnson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Johnson University?
Johnson University enrolls 743 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Johnson University?
Johnson University graduates 30% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Johnson University a public or private college?
Johnson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Johnson University located?
Johnson University is located in Knoxville, Tennessee.
What programs does Johnson University offer?
Johnson University offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Bible/Biblical Studies, Theology, Philosophy.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Johnson University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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