The University of Tennessee Knoxville ranked 64th in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's "100 Best Values in Public Colleges" poll, according to the Kiplinger website.

The poll calculates its rankings based on entrance exam scores, student-to-faculty ratios, average student debt after graduation and academic quality as a whole.

UT was highlighted for a variety of financial aid packages offered to students who wouldn't normally be able to afford a four-year university's tuition. UT was praised for the Tennessee Pledge and Promise.

We're proud that Kiplinger's recognizes the value we offer our students...
UT Interim Chancellor Jan Simek

The Tennessee Pledge and Promise scholarships target students who graduate from high schools that don't normally send students to four-year institutions.  The scholarships cover all mandatory costs the students will incur during their college experience.

According to UT's website, Interim Chancellor Jan Simek said he was very pleased with the school’s accomplishments.

"We're proud that Kiplinger's recognizes the value we offer our students because we've worked diligently to devote resources to ensure our university is affordable and accessible," Simek said.

The University of Florida, University of Georgia  and University of South Carolina are Southeastern Conference schools that ranked higher on the list than UT.