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East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$15,983What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
86%
Graduation rate
52%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
10,004
In-state tuition
$10,472Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$14,522
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$44,859Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$15,983

Better than 38% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

52%

Better than 48% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$44,859

Better than 16% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$19,442

Better than 69% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$27,042

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$15,983

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for East Tennessee State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time52%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return76%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$19,442
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$44,859

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at East Tennessee State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$64,459588
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$56,55142
Computer and Information Sciences, General$52,00878
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$51,31634
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$48,67153
Accounting and Related Services$44,83447
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$40,27673
Finance and Financial Management Services$39,93644
Public Health$38,43517
Political Science and Government$37,59426
Business Administration, Management and Operations$37,041126
Marketing$35,63280
Design and Applied Arts$34,17726
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$33,30135
Social Work$32,51444
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$32,474100
Human Services, General$32,43746
Criminal Justice and Corrections$30,09768
Music$30,00427
Biology, General$28,13891
History$27,79940
Communication and Media Studies$27,38065
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other$27,19680
Psychology, General$26,403140
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$25,768108
Sociology$24,46830
English Language and Literature, General$21,83636
Graphic Communications$20,80249
Fine and Studio Arts$16,69622
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsNot reported43
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reported34
Engineering-Related Technologies/TechniciansNot reported20
ChemistryNot reported20
Special Education and TeachingNot reported17
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesNot reported14
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported13
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationNot reported13
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyNot reported12
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported12
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported11
Business/Managerial EconomicsNot reported11
MathematicsNot reported10
AnthropologyNot reported7
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported7
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported6
PhilosophyNot reported4
PhysicsNot reported4
Engineering, GeneralNot reported4
EconomicsNot reportedNot reported
Geography and CartographyNot reportedNot reported
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reportedNot reported

All 51 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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