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East Tennessee State University

#278 in US ranking Johnson City, TN
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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East Tennessee State University award
East Tennessee State University award

Cost

Cost / year
$25,869
Tuition & fees
$10,592
Avg. aid
$11,795
Receiving aid
94%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
86%
SAT range
980–1200
ACT range
19–26

Outcomes

Graduation rate
53%
Median salary
$46,228
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at East Tennessee State University?

ETSU's reported six-year graduation rate is 53% for the first-time, full-time undergraduate cohort used in federal completion reporting. Its four-year rate is 40%. These figures describe different time horizons for a defined entering group, not the probability that any particular student will graduate.

The reported first-year retention rate is 76%, meaning roughly three-quarters of the measured first-time cohort returned the following fall. Standard federal graduation rates do not describe every transfer, part-time, or returning adult student's path. They also do not show whether students who leave ETSU later complete a degree elsewhere. Someone choosing a major with clinical placements or a tightly sequenced curriculum should review that program's course plan as well as institution-wide rates.

What is the earning potential for graduates at East Tennessee State University?

College Scorecard field-of-study figures report earnings measured about one year after completion for qualifying federally aided completers with available earnings records. They are not starting-salary offers, forecasts for current applicants, or an earnings measure for every person who studied a subject.

Reported one-year median figures include approximately $51,719 for registered nursing, $50,234 for general computer and information sciences, $38,530 for accounting, and $33,833 for business administration and management. These examples illustrate variation among reported fields, but comparisons require care: credential level, later study, employment patterns, and the composition of each measured group can differ. Some fields do not have a published figure, and a missing figure should not be interpreted as zero earnings.

For career planning, an earnings statistic is most useful alongside program costs, likely borrowing, licensure requirements, and the time graduates may spend in further education or training.

East Tennessee State University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
53%
4-year graduation
40%
6-year graduation
53%

East Tennessee State University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
76%
First-year retention, part-time students
62%
Employed 1 year after graduation
96%

East Tennessee State University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$46,228
4 years after graduation
$53,033
5 years after graduation
$53,923
7 years after graduation
$57,311
10 years after starting college
$48,646

Alumni Salary for East Tennessee State University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Accounting and Related Services

$38,530

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

$39,304

Biology, General

$23,571

Business Administration, Management and Operations

$33,833

Chemistry

$43,048

Communication and Media Studies

$25,159

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$50,234

Criminal Justice and Corrections

$27,582

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

$48,113

Design and Applied Arts

$28,196

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

$23,806

Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General

$51,039

English Language and Literature, General

$19,434

Finance and Financial Management Services

$34,285

Fine and Studio Arts

$20,044

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

$37,727

Graphic Communications

$19,656

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

$25,418

History

$21,920

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

$25,544

Human Services, General

$25,569

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

$26,312

Marketing

$32,758

Mathematics

$33,818

Music

$20,614

Political Science and Government

$24,938

Psychology, General

$22,772

Public Health

$30,864

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$51,719

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

$29,351

Social Work

$29,150

Sociology

$19,138

Special Education and Teaching

$33,928

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

$24,961

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

$33,854

East Tennessee State University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

582129711

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

114158272

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

5785142

Psychology

10826134

Visual and Performing Arts

652590

Education

78785

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

483280

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

106878

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

373875

English Language and Literature/Letters

581573

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

20648254

Education

9524119

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

553893

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

681078

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

172643

Physical Sciences

101424

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

61521

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

16319

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

7613

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

9211

DOCTOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

542276

Education

231033

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

61016

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

9211

Psychology

909

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology

134

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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