East Tennessee State University (ETSU) vs Georgia Southern University

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and Georgia Southern University (GSU) are two public universities located in the southeastern United States, offering a wide range of academic programs and opportunities. While they share some similarities, there are also several key differences between the two institutions. ETSU, located in Johnson City, Tennessee, has a smaller student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to GSU, which is situated in Statesboro, Georgia. ETSU is known for its strong programs in nursing, allied health, and business, while GSU excels in fields such as engineering, education, and nursing. Both universities offer a diverse range of student life activities and NCAA Division I athletics, but GSU has a larger and more active Greek life scene. To help you make an informed decision about which university is the right fit for you, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting the key differences between ETSU and GSU. Explore the table to discover more about the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body
East Tennessee State University logo

East Tennessee State University

Georgia Southern University logo

Georgia Southern University

Overview

Location Johnson City, Tennessee Statesboro, Georgia
Campus setting City: Small Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 67.0% 72.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.4% 90.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $55
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 990 - 1200
ACT range 19 - 26 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 23.0%
Students submitting ACT score 80.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 8,563 18,541
Total number of admissions given out 7,484 16,782
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,856 5,571
Yield rate 24.8% 33.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,704

Out of state: $32,006
In state: $23,011

Out of state: $34,065
Average net price $14,482 $15,830
Tuition
In state: $7,486

Out of state: $10,788
In state: $4,371

Out of state: $15,425
Room & board $9,582
Room/dormitory: $6,262

Meal plan: $3,750
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $9,541
89.0%
Average amount $7,748
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $6,489
49.0%
Average amount $5,121
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $13,366
7.0%
Average amount $8,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 10,316
Men 38.3% Women 61.7%
23,527
Men 42.1% Women 57.9%
Graduate students 2,987
Men 30.7% Women 69.3%
3,549
Men 28.3% Women 71.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 22.1% 6.5%
International students 2.0% 1.5%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 2,833 5,722
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Tennessee North Carolina Virginia South Carolina Georgia Georgia Florida South Carolina North Carolina Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 22:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 50.6% 53.6%
Dropout rate 21.3% 14.3%
Transferred out 25.2% 29.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,882
  • Year 2: $117,477
  • Year 3: $121,003
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,648
  • Year 2: $94,408
  • Year 3: $101,627
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,704
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $92,942
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,704
  • Year 2: $70,009
  • Year 3: $77,994
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,980
  • Year 2: $68,592
  • Year 3: $75,044
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,417
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $71,655
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,748
  • Year 2: $54,748
  • Year 3: $69,192
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,234
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $66,513
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,737
  • Year 2: $44,971
  • Year 3: $59,138
Engineering Technology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,039
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $58,679
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,951
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $96,937
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $82,820
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $89,855
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,715
  • Year 2: $64,608
  • Year 3: $76,683
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,107
  • Year 2: $65,486
  • Year 3: $75,334
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,688
  • Year 2: $60,399
  • Year 3: $73,752
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,291
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $73,741
Curriculum and Instruction (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,792
  • Year 2: $72,134
  • Year 3: $70,800
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,135
  • Year 2: $63,203
  • Year 3: $69,489
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,923
  • Year 2: $65,506
  • Year 3: $68,258
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,090
  • Year 2: $63,749
  • Year 3: $66,074

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