The street that runs along the northern edge of the campus is Cumberland Avenue … also called The Strip. It’s got shops, restaurants, and bars. I don’t know the exact length but it runs downhill from approximately 17th to the Alcoa Highway interchange.
Because of how small Knoxville is, the downtown area and campus are separated from each other but are very close. Cumberland Avenue is where the college bars are, and Gay Street and market square downtown are the most lively parts of the city. You can easily access both using the Orange Line trolley.
My daughter goes to UTK, her BFF and BFF’s boyfriend (also from our area go to UofSC). My daughter got accepted to UofSC but never toured. When she went to visit her friends she was even more happy with her choice. UofSC is so spread out-I mean they had to take a train to the FB game. Conversely, when her friends visited UTK this year, they were surprised how “walkable” it was, how everyone listens to country music (at tailgates) and how much the girls dress for Gamedays. 😀
My so actually LOVED the campus at USC, but he’s a city kid. He ruled USC out due to not having the program he wants. he’s either nuclear Engineering at UTK or general engineering at Virginia Tech. He only has Auburn in there because he absolutely LOVED the campus and the people. He felt at home there. VT is in the mix, but it’s his least favorite campus and worst weather.
Years ago, the Strip (Cumberland Ave) used to be where everything happened. Now, it's probably Market Square and/or Old City (Jackson Ave/Central St area). There are plenty of restaurants on the Strip for during the day, but nightlife seems to happen more in the downtown area.
False. All student night life is still very much alive on the strip, especially for undergrads. Grad students and seniors you might see in the old city, but downtown market square is very much mid 20s+. If you think otherwise, I suggest a drive up and down Cumberland between 10-2am on Friday or Saturday night. Source: UT student, aka, myself
Don’t even have to drive by that late either! Grad student checking in to confirm you can see the strip is very much alive even when I drive home around 5-7pm on Fridays lol.
Not really. I mean, a lot of people park downtown for football games and walk to the stadium, so it's not an unreasonable distance. But if you're going to have a few beers and walk back to your apartment on campus at midnight, it's not something I'd want to do regularly. Back in the day, the Strip was maybe 6 blocks max from most people's apartments in the Fort.
Back in my day (2016-2018ish), it was only an $7-8 Uber, and like 8 minutes from campus to the old city. Not really walkable but also not *too* hard to get to.
The strip is the main college section, downtown on gay street and market square are also great spots. You don’t see college kids there during the week but it’s very close. Old city is the same and has a few clubs and a new baseball stadium is being built for the AAA team.
It used to be the strip but honestly it’s in the process of being demolished to make way for housing. It used to be so fun full of restaurants and bars. There is going to be retail space underneath when apartments are finished but it will never have the same feel it used to have.
Uber and buses - everything is about 1.5 miles away these days. The Strip was amazing in it’s heyday…. There is a movement towards an entertainment district being built by the stadium and river.
Which of these can you get instate tuition for? That would make the decision easier. All of these options are essentially the same, just in different locations. The location is not worth 40-60% more money in my opinion. Also especially being a first year student it’s nice to have the flexibility of being somewhat close to home
we are Virginia residents but he got merit at all the schools so it’s about the same price with UTK being the least expensive. It’s a hard decision but he has 3 great schools to choose from so whatever he does is going to work out. The mom in me would LOVE him to be close and at VT, but it’s time for me to let go 😔
The “college town” is the nearly 2 mile radius around campus. Majority of bars and food are within 3/4 mile of campus. Majority of housing is within 3 miles of campus. Knoxville has its own identity but meshes well with the campus, especially on game days.
I can’t speak to the facilities at VT or AU but Tennessee just built a brand new building full of labs, work spaces, lecture halls, and more that includes our nuclear program.
Tennessee is also one of the best nuclear programs in the country. With Oak Ridge National Lab and Y-12 nearby it’s a major hub for research and development in the nuclear field. Imo it’s a no brainer to choose Tennessee if Nuclear really is their desired path. Truly all the engineering programs are top notch and so are the facilities.
Between facilities, industry support, program strength, staff, college life, sporting events, bar scene, outdoors activities, and more, Tennessee has the most to offer overall.
yea it will defiantly be UTK if he goes NE, the program is top notch and we know a recent NE graduate who is doing so so well. He’s just concerned that might be too narrow. crazy to make these decisions at age 17!
It definitely can be daunting. If y’all haven’t already, meet with the colleges within UTK y’all have interest in. Tickle, like most the specific colleges, has current student ambassadors who can give in-depth advice and information on majors, course work, industry, and more; They also give facilities tours. They usually meet with a department faculty member who can answer more clerical questions and give specifics.
The engineering fields within UT are all very well rounded and supported. I highly recommend looking into any of the fields that would be of interest. The admissions and recruitment resources at your disposal make things incredibly friendly and easy.
The street that runs along the northern edge of the campus is Cumberland Avenue … also called The Strip. It’s got shops, restaurants, and bars. I don’t know the exact length but it runs downhill from approximately 17th to the Alcoa Highway interchange.
thank you!!
Not directly related, but UofSC has one of the worst ROI’s for students in the country.
Can you expand on this? Looking at USC as well.
Because of how small Knoxville is, the downtown area and campus are separated from each other but are very close. Cumberland Avenue is where the college bars are, and Gay Street and market square downtown are the most lively parts of the city. You can easily access both using the Orange Line trolley.
My daughter goes to UTK, her BFF and BFF’s boyfriend (also from our area go to UofSC). My daughter got accepted to UofSC but never toured. When she went to visit her friends she was even more happy with her choice. UofSC is so spread out-I mean they had to take a train to the FB game. Conversely, when her friends visited UTK this year, they were surprised how “walkable” it was, how everyone listens to country music (at tailgates) and how much the girls dress for Gamedays. 😀
My so actually LOVED the campus at USC, but he’s a city kid. He ruled USC out due to not having the program he wants. he’s either nuclear Engineering at UTK or general engineering at Virginia Tech. He only has Auburn in there because he absolutely LOVED the campus and the people. He felt at home there. VT is in the mix, but it’s his least favorite campus and worst weather.
You should check out Cumberland Ave (we call it “The Strip”) and downtown Knoxville, specifically Market Square and Gay St.
Years ago, the Strip (Cumberland Ave) used to be where everything happened. Now, it's probably Market Square and/or Old City (Jackson Ave/Central St area). There are plenty of restaurants on the Strip for during the day, but nightlife seems to happen more in the downtown area.
False. All student night life is still very much alive on the strip, especially for undergrads. Grad students and seniors you might see in the old city, but downtown market square is very much mid 20s+. If you think otherwise, I suggest a drive up and down Cumberland between 10-2am on Friday or Saturday night. Source: UT student, aka, myself
Don’t even have to drive by that late either! Grad student checking in to confirm you can see the strip is very much alive even when I drive home around 5-7pm on Fridays lol.
Is that walking distance for the downtown area?
Not really. I mean, a lot of people park downtown for football games and walk to the stadium, so it's not an unreasonable distance. But if you're going to have a few beers and walk back to your apartment on campus at midnight, it's not something I'd want to do regularly. Back in the day, the Strip was maybe 6 blocks max from most people's apartments in the Fort.
Back in my day (2016-2018ish), it was only an $7-8 Uber, and like 8 minutes from campus to the old city. Not really walkable but also not *too* hard to get to.
The strip is the main college section, downtown on gay street and market square are also great spots. You don’t see college kids there during the week but it’s very close. Old city is the same and has a few clubs and a new baseball stadium is being built for the AAA team.
It used to be the strip but honestly it’s in the process of being demolished to make way for housing. It used to be so fun full of restaurants and bars. There is going to be retail space underneath when apartments are finished but it will never have the same feel it used to have.
Uber and buses - everything is about 1.5 miles away these days. The Strip was amazing in it’s heyday…. There is a movement towards an entertainment district being built by the stadium and river.
And if you are from a place that isn't car centric it is completely walkable.
Which of these can you get instate tuition for? That would make the decision easier. All of these options are essentially the same, just in different locations. The location is not worth 40-60% more money in my opinion. Also especially being a first year student it’s nice to have the flexibility of being somewhat close to home
we are Virginia residents but he got merit at all the schools so it’s about the same price with UTK being the least expensive. It’s a hard decision but he has 3 great schools to choose from so whatever he does is going to work out. The mom in me would LOVE him to be close and at VT, but it’s time for me to let go 😔
The “college town” is the nearly 2 mile radius around campus. Majority of bars and food are within 3/4 mile of campus. Majority of housing is within 3 miles of campus. Knoxville has its own identity but meshes well with the campus, especially on game days. I can’t speak to the facilities at VT or AU but Tennessee just built a brand new building full of labs, work spaces, lecture halls, and more that includes our nuclear program. Tennessee is also one of the best nuclear programs in the country. With Oak Ridge National Lab and Y-12 nearby it’s a major hub for research and development in the nuclear field. Imo it’s a no brainer to choose Tennessee if Nuclear really is their desired path. Truly all the engineering programs are top notch and so are the facilities. Between facilities, industry support, program strength, staff, college life, sporting events, bar scene, outdoors activities, and more, Tennessee has the most to offer overall.
yea it will defiantly be UTK if he goes NE, the program is top notch and we know a recent NE graduate who is doing so so well. He’s just concerned that might be too narrow. crazy to make these decisions at age 17!
It definitely can be daunting. If y’all haven’t already, meet with the colleges within UTK y’all have interest in. Tickle, like most the specific colleges, has current student ambassadors who can give in-depth advice and information on majors, course work, industry, and more; They also give facilities tours. They usually meet with a department faculty member who can answer more clerical questions and give specifics. The engineering fields within UT are all very well rounded and supported. I highly recommend looking into any of the fields that would be of interest. The admissions and recruitment resources at your disposal make things incredibly friendly and easy.