East Tennessee State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Johnson City, Tennessee. It enrolls 10,004 students (a large 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
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes42
Value55
Affordability63
Selectivity37
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.2%, East Tennessee State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
980 – 1200
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 26
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 East Tennessee State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending East Tennessee State 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 $15,983 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,983
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
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 (in-state)
$10,472
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$14,522
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,554
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,728
Books & Supplies
$1,350
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,920
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,730
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,042
Application fee: $25 (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
$12,433
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,289
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,400
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,588
Over $110,000
$21,193
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,442Medianpercentile
$25,00375%percentile
$37,00090%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 $15,500
↓ $3,942
No Pell $12,500
↓ $6,942
Dependent students $13,750
↓ $5,692
Independent students $17,250
↓ $2,192
Female students $14,900
↓ $4,542
Male students $13,500
↓ $5,942
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($19,442), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at East Tennessee State University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered East Tennessee State University earn a median of $44,859 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,859
Earning > $25K
73%
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
$36,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,500, about 21% 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 ↑
16.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
East Tennessee State University is home to 10,004 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
10,004
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.6%7,158
Black 5.9%589
Hispanic 4.5%452
Other 2.8%279
Asian 2.3%227
International 1.7%172
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at East Tennessee State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityJohnson City, Tennessee
Housing
Partly residential3,072 beds available
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
East Tennessee State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
117 distinct programs across
25 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 East Tennessee State University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$17,568
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$102M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,101
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
703 instructional faculty across 6 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
210
30%
$91,139
Associate Professors
189
27%
$80,369
Assistant Professors
210
30%
$70,780
Instructors
30
4%
$63,223
Lecturers
60
9%
$49,107
No Rank
4
1%
$41,319
Pros & Cons of East Tennessee State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how East Tennessee State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, East Tennessee State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about East Tennessee State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about East Tennessee State University.
Is East Tennessee State University hard to get into?
East Tennessee State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at East Tennessee State University?
East Tennessee State University has an acceptance rate of 86.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for East Tennessee State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at East Tennessee State University scored between 980 and 1200 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 East Tennessee State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at East Tennessee State University scored between 19 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does East Tennessee State University cost?
The average net price after aid at East Tennessee State University is $15,983 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is East Tennessee State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,859 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,983 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is East Tennessee State University known for?
East Tennessee State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do East Tennessee State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering East Tennessee State University are $44,859, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is East Tennessee State University accredited?
Yes. East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend East Tennessee State University?
East Tennessee State University enrolls 10,004 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at East Tennessee State University?
East Tennessee State University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is East Tennessee State University a public or private college?
East Tennessee State University is a Public institution.
Where is East Tennessee State University located?
East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, Tennessee.
What programs does East Tennessee State University offer?
East Tennessee State University offers 117 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at East Tennessee State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at East Tennessee State University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Tennessee
Other colleges in Tennessee share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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