East Tennessee State University (ETSU) vs Tennessee State

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and Tennessee State University (TSU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning in Tennessee, each offering unique educational experiences. ETSU, located in Johnson City, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to TSU's 58%, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. TSU, situated in Nashville, stands out for its historically Black college or university (HBCU) status, fostering a diverse and inclusive campus community. While ETSU's student body is predominantly White (78%), TSU's student population is predominantly Black (79%). Both universities offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with popular majors including nursing, business, and education. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including graduation rates, tuition costs, and available student services, to determine which university best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
East Tennessee State University logo

East Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University logo

Tennessee State University

Overview

Location Johnson City, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
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% 53.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.4% Open Admission
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $55
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $25
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range 19 - 26 N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score 80.0%
Total number of applicants 8,563
Total number of admissions given out 7,484
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,856
Yield rate 24.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Not required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,704

Out of state: $32,006
In state: $29,346

Out of state: $42,702
Average net price $14,482 $11,880
Tuition
In state: $7,486

Out of state: $10,788
In state: $7,128

Out of state: $20,484
Room & board $9,582
Room/dormitory: $3,958

Meal plan: $4,208
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
70.0%
Average amount $11,763
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $6,489
44.0%
Average amount $5,525
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $13,366
2.0%
Average amount $16,866

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 10,316
Men 38.3% Women 61.7%
6,375
Men 36.4% Women 63.6%
Graduate students 2,987
Men 30.7% Women 69.3%
1,702
Men 30.7% Women 69.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 22.1% 60.5%
International students 2.0% 6.2%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,833 2,960
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 Tennessee Georgia Illinois Alabama Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Psychology
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 14:1
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% 30.3%
Dropout rate 21.3% 34.7%
Transferred out 25.2% 32.1%
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: $82,844
  • Year 2: $87,815
  • Year 3: $92,171
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,196
  • Year 2: $69,785
  • Year 3: $76,676
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,153
  • Year 2: $66,401
  • Year 3: $68,568
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,247
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $64,166
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,002
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $60,516
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,786
  • Year 2: $51,106
  • Year 3: $55,951
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,119
  • Year 2: $54,463
  • Year 3: $55,511
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,306
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $51,216
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,743
  • Year 2: $39,369
  • Year 3: $45,501
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,198
  • Year 2: $41,937
  • Year 3: $45,402

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