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East Tennessee State University
Admission at East Tennessee State University is close to open (86.2%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $44,859 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
East Tennessee State University sits in Johnson City proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, where graduates median $106,593 four years out. 34.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 10,004 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 950 and 1170 — below the TN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on East Tennessee State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, East Tennessee State University received 9,903 applications and admitted 8,622 (87.1%), with 2,141 enrolling.
You can apply to East Tennessee State University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 950 and 1170; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 490 | 540 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 510 | 570 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How East Tennessee State University compares
| East Tennessee State University | Tennessee median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 86.2% | 69.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,472 | $21,400 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $44,859 | $48,382 | $53,781 |
At $44,859, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($48,382). Look at East Tennessee State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $10,472 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $14,522. For non-residents, East Tennessee State University's $14,522 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 10,004 undergrads, East Tennessee State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
53.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 47% don't — ask a East Tennessee State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at East Tennessee State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $106,593 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $82,073 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $75,298 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $74,311 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $65,649 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $62,853 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $60,298 |
| Marketing | $58,583 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $58,232 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $57,642 |
| Biology, General | $57,167 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,719 |
| Public Health | $52,543 |
| Mathematics | $49,423 |
| Political Science and Government | $48,452 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $48,263 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,821 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $44,738 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $44,224 |
| History | $44,142 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $43,998 |
| Social Work | $43,855 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,687 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $43,051 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $43,001 |
| Psychology, General | $42,358 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $41,570 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,449 |
| Graphic Communications | $41,074 |
| Human Services, General | $40,288 |
| Sociology | $36,966 |
| Music | $35,707 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,516 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $28,062 |
Median earnings for these 34 East Tennessee State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $44,859 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 17 additional East Tennessee State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for East Tennessee State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 950–1170 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 86.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is East Tennessee State University's acceptance rate?
87.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 8,622 admitted from 9,903 applicants.
How much does East Tennessee State University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,472; out-of-state students pay $14,522. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do East Tennessee State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $44,859 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Tennessee
- Christian Brothers University — 86.7% admitted
- Carson-Newman University — 90.5% admitted
- Belmont University — 95.3% admitted
- John A Gupton College — 100% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.