C+
Above Average
Score: 59/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
39/100 · earnings-weighted

East Tennessee State University

4-Year Public
📍 Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
East Tennessee State University campus, Johnson City, TN
East Tennessee State University campus, Johnson City, TN. Photo: Smoke321, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
B
67/100
Affordability
C+
60/100
Resources
C
52/100
Experience
B+
76/100
Prestige
C
40/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

13,586
Total Enrollment
50%
Graduation Rate
74%
Retention Rate
18.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
87%
Acceptance Rate
$16,033
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near East Tennessee State University ▼

14% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (37614) has no residential market, so these figures average 1 nearby ZIP codes within 3 miles of campus (37604).

Avg Home Value
$288,254
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,481
1-Year Change
+4.4%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at East Tennessee State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$44,859
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$38,704
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,442
Median debt at graduation
53.2%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,144
Average SAT
23
Median ACT
34.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 43% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 25th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (TN wage index 0.84). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at East Tennessee State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration—$106,593-9%#18 of 29#12—
Computer and Information Sciences$52,008$82,073-11%#277 of 459#210$23,370
Engineering Technologies/Technicians$56,551$75,298-6%#26 of 34#16$27,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$64,459$74,311-16%#896 of 966#797$19,558
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$51,316$65,649-4%#48 of 76#33$14,000
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$48,671$62,853-11%#159 of 253#148$20,903
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences$27,196$60,298-12%#42 of 61#34$17,750
Marketing$35,632$58,583-15%#405 of 516#343$20,500
Finance and Financial Management Services$39,936$58,232-30%#436 of 452#416$17,739
Accounting and Related Services$44,834$57,642-24%#746 of 796#689$16,250
Biology$28,138$57,167+-0%#449 of 841#267$19,625
Business Administration, Management and Operations$37,041$55,719-18%#939 of 1176#811$18,500
Public Health$38,435$52,543-11%#147 of 215#112$22,299
Mathematics—$49,423-29%#299 of 309#287—
Political Science and Government$37,594$48,452-23%#534 of 565#481$21,500
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies—$48,263+-0%#63 of 137#55—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$25,768$47,821-12%#474 of 610#379$21,928
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$32,474$44,738-16%#387 of 476#343$21,500
Special Education and Teaching—$44,224-12%#153 of 177#142—
History$27,799$44,142-13%#391 of 459#300$20,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections$30,097$43,998-21%#621 of 660#583$23,250
Social Work$32,514$43,855-15%#389 of 420#370$20,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$40,276$43,687-8%#550 of 680#453$15,000
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$33,301$43,051-11%#142 of 172#108$19,500
English Language and Literature$21,836$43,001-12%#448 of 576#350$17,022
Psychology$26,403$42,358-16%#898 of 1027#779$16,387
Communication and Media Studies$27,380$41,570-26%#618 of 660#576$21,274
Design and Applied Arts$34,177$41,449-20%#260 of 299#226$18,250
Graphic Communications$20,802$41,074-5%#36 of 59#27$22,250
Human Services$32,437$40,288-17%#84 of 94#76$20,875
Sociology$24,468$36,966-30%#455 of 462#447$17,495
Music$30,004$35,707-17%#234 of 268#197$23,000
Fine and Studio Arts$16,696$34,516-17%#369 of 423#316$22,000
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft—$28,062-29%#252 of 255#240—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The East Tennessee State University Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 37615 (4.1% cap, Johnson City)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where East Tennessee State University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#23
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
of 93 schools
#26
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
of 67 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,706 $11,034
Room $4,832
Board $4,660
Total Cost (On-Campus) $28,500 $32,340

Financial Aid

92%
Receive Any Aid
41%
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Take Out Loans
$16,033
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$13,158
$30,001 - $48,000$13,625
$48,001 - $75,000$16,944
$75,001 - $110,000$19,753
$110,001+$20,907

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 518 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 153 grads/yr Psychology, General 153 grads/yr Public Health, General 131 grads/yr Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other 105 grads/yr Teacher Education, Multiple Levels 99 grads/yr Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General 98 grads/yr Social Work 98 grads/yr Computer and Information Sciences, General 89 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 84 grads/yr Marketing/Marketing Management, General 80 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 77 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 77 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 67 grads/yr Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 66 grads/yr Mass Communication/Media Studies 64 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 62 grads/yr Medicine 62 grads/yr Accounting 62 grads/yr History, General 53 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from East Tennessee State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs

Student Demographics

13,586
Total Students
62%
Women
78%
Traditional Age (18-24)
14%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 72%
Hispanic 4%
Black 6%
Asian 3%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 3%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 66%
Off-Campus (Renters) 14%
With Family 20%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,929 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 31%
Hybrid (Some Online) 48%
Fully Online 21%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 78%
25-64 (Adult) 14%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at East Tennessee State University?
East Tennessee State University has an acceptance rate of 87%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend East Tennessee State University?
Tuition at East Tennessee State University is $7,706 for in-state students and $11,034 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $16,033.
What is the graduation rate at East Tennessee State University?
The graduation rate at East Tennessee State University is 50%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is East Tennessee State University a good school?
East Tennessee State University has a Repit College Score of 59/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend East Tennessee State University?
East Tennessee State University has a total enrollment of 13,586 students. Most students (78%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near East Tennessee State University?
Yes! Approximately 14% of students at East Tennessee State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,929 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for East Tennessee State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to East Tennessee State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · 21,736 students
C+
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · 11,380 students
C+
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · 10,117 students
C+
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · 9,945 students
C+
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN · 8,198 students
C+
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · 6,941 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology