How to get into University of Memphis
How to get into Memphis: a Tennessee urban research university with strong audiology, music, and business programs
72%
Acceptance rate
$10,728
In-state cost
$15,384
Out-of-state cost
What makes University of Memphis admissions different
The University of Memphis is a public research university — roughly 12,700 undergrads on an urban campus in Memphis, Tennessee. The school admits around 72% of applicants. Memphis has nationally regarded programs in audiology and speech-language pathology, music (the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, with strong ties to the Memphis music industry), business (the Fogelman College of Business and Economics), and a College of Communication and Fine Arts. For Tennessee residents, Memphis offers in-state tuition with HOPE scholarship eligibility.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or Memphis' direct application. The school operates on rolling-style admissions with priority deadlines for housing and scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Tennessee residents: confirm HOPE/Promise/TELS eligibility for state aid stacked with Memphis institutional aid.
- 3.
Pick the right college. The Fogelman College of Business, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the School of Music (audition-based for performance), the College of Health Sciences, and the Herff College of Engineering each have their own program-specific framing.
- 4.
Music applicants: prepare the audition. The Scheidt School of Music admits performance students through audition.
- 5.
Apply to the Helen Hardin Honors College through its separate application. Honors students get smaller seminars, an honors thesis, and dedicated advising.
- 6.
Apply for the named merit scholarships (Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential Scholarship and others) at the priority deadline. The Humphreys Scholarship is the school's flagship full-tuition merit award.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the priority deadline for honors and scholarship consideration. The Humphreys Scholarship in particular has an earlier deadline.
- ✕
Skipping the music audition when applying to a performance program.
- ✕
Treating Memphis as a generic Tennessee public. The audiology, music, and business programs have specific reputations.
- ✕
Underestimating the urban setting. Memphis is genuinely urban and the campus is part of the city's culture.
The specifics for University of Memphis
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Memphis' honors college offers smaller seminars, an honors thesis, dedicated advising, and an honors-themed residential community. Separate application required.
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Memphis' audiology and speech-language pathology programs are among the most established in the country, with strong undergraduate research and graduate placement.
Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
An audition-based music school with strong ties to the Memphis music industry — distinctive among public-university music programs.
Notable scholarships at University of Memphis
Cecil C. Humphreys Presidential ScholarshipFull tuition (and beyond, with stacked aid)
Memphis' flagship full-tuition merit award for top applicants; selected from early applicants with a separate finalist process.
What graduates actually do
U of Memphis graduates anchor the city's economy across FedEx (the largest local employer and home to many U of M alumni), healthcare (Methodist Le Bonheur, Baptist Memorial), music industry, and education. The Fogelman College of Business has strong FedEx and AutoZone placement, and the law school and Loewenberg College of Nursing feed regional professional pipelines. The Mike Curb Institute of Music ties into Memphis's iconic recording legacy.
Notable alumni
- Penny Hardaway — Professional basketball (NBA)
- Frederick W. Smith — Business (FedEx founder)
- Kathy Bates — Acting (Oscar winner)
- Cybill Shepherd (briefly attended) — Acting
Transfer pathway
U of Memphis accepts transfers via the Tennessee Transfer Pathway program, guaranteeing junior standing for graduates of Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges who complete the appropriate AA/AS pathway with a 2.0+ GPA. Major feeders include Southwest Tennessee Community College (Memphis), Dyersburg State Community College, and Jackson State Community College.
Articulation partners
Southwest Tennessee Community College · Dyersburg State Community College · Jackson State Community College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're a Tennessee resident with a B/B+ transcript, Memphis is a likely admit and a strong in-state value with HOPE eligibility. The Humphreys Scholarship and Helen Hardin Honors College are the levers for high-achieving applicants. Out-of-state applicants at similar profiles should compare cost against home-state publics — Memphis is most compelling for Tennessee residents and specific-program applicants.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.