“Tennessee public R1 research university with 230+ areas of study”
The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public R1 research university founded in 1912 as West Tennessee Normal School; today it enrolls roughly 22,000 students and offers more than 250 areas of study across 13 colleges and schools. Located in a leafy residential neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee — the world's logistics capital and home to FedEx's global headquarters — the UofM has grown into one of the Mid-South's flagship research institutions, with a Carnegie R1 designation, strong doctoral programs, and nationally visible work in audiology, speech-language pathology, music, supply-chain management, and psychology. Academic strengths sit at the intersection of industry and research. The FedEx Institute of Technology anchors cross-disciplinary work in AI, cybersecurity, and logistics; the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality (named for the founder of Holiday Inn) is one of few such schools in the South; the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music is a regional powerhouse with deep ties to Memphis's blues, soul, and hip-hop heritage; and the Loewenberg College of Nursing, Herff College of Engineering, and Fogelman College of Business and Economics all carry AACSB or program-specific accreditation. Popular undergraduate majors include Kinesiology, Nursing, Psychology, Business, and interdisciplinary studies, with over 120 graduate programs available. For international students, Memphis offers a genuinely affordable public-research option with targeted scholarships that can reduce out-of-state tuition to in-state levels for qualifying applicants. The International Student Services office supports F-1 students through I-20 issuance, CPT, and OPT; STEM-designated degree programs qualify graduates for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Campus life runs on Tiger pride — including a live Bengal tiger mascot tradition (TOM) dating to 1972, the Liberty Bowl football home, and 50 tiger statues across the city — and downtown Memphis, Beale Street, Graceland, and the Mississippi riverfront are a short drive away.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Research
Carnegie Classification
Test Flexible — Multiple standardized test types are accepted.
Official SourcePriority Deadline
Priority consideration for scholarships and housing
Regular Decision
Final deadline for fall admission
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$10,728
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$15,384
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
AACSB-accredited business college with strong concentrations in supply-chain management (ranked among the best in the South), finance, marketing, and management, leveraging Memphis's position as the world's logistics capital.
ABET-accredited engineering programs in civil, mechanical, electrical, biomedical, and computer engineering, with a growing focus on AI and smart infrastructure through the FedEx Institute of Technology.
The university's largest college, home to computer science, biology, chemistry, psychology, and the humanities, with strong research programs in cognitive science and earth sciences.
CCNE-accredited nursing programs from BSN through DNP with extensive clinical placements across Memphis's major health systems including Methodist, Baptist, and Regional One.
Nationally recognized music school offering classical, jazz, and commercial music, deeply integrated with Memphis's storied blues, soul, rock, and hip-hop scenes.
Named for the founder of Holiday Inn, offering hospitality and tourism programs with industry-embedded internships and a Holiday Inn-branded on-site hotel and conference center on campus.
4 years
Leverages Memphis's position as FedEx's global hub and North America's top logistics market; strong placement with FedEx, International Paper, AutoZone, and regional 3PLs.
4 years
ABET-accredited program with AI, cybersecurity, and data science concentrations; STEM-OPT designated, with research opportunities through the FedEx Institute of Technology.
4 years
Nationally ranked programs at the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, with clinical training at the on-campus Memphis Speech and Hearing Center.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $15,384
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
