East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee · Public · 10,004 undergraduates · etsu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
86%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
980 to 1200
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$33,690Est.Estimate
$38,250 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at East Tennessee State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
86% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$38,250
a year in 2027-28, from a $38,250 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1090
Send your score
About 34% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 920, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Send official score reports when you apply.
Source: Freshman Admission Requirements · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
86%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 980 to 1200
Reading and Writing 510 to 620
Math 470 to 580
ACT composite 19 to 26
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$33,690
a year, in state
$38,250
a year, out of state (tuition $16,360)
- Tuition (in state)$11,800
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$12,262
- $30,001 to $48,000$11,229
- $48,001 to $75,000$12,336
- $75,001 to $110,000$17,078
- Over $110,000$20,789
Financial aidEstimate
54%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
87%
of freshmen receive grants
$10,101
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Tennessee programs for residents
Ned McWherter Scholars Program
$6,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.75+ GPA, 1430+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Competitive merit award; application with transcript through first semester of senior year and official ACT/SAT; competitive, limited funding
Aspire Award
State program · In-state students
Up to $750/semester (4-year) or up to $250/semester (2-year) in addition to HOPE
- 3.00+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, Need-based HOPE supplement; meet HOPE requirements and parents' (or independent student's and spouse's) AGI of $36,000 or less
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS)
State program · In-state students
Up to $500/semester in addition to HOPE (including summer)
- 3.75+ GPA, 1330+ SAT or 29+ ACT, HOPE supplement (TN public or category 1-3 private HS graduates); must meet HOPE Scholarship requirements; FAFSA, from Tennessee
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
State program · In-state students
4-year (and 2-year with housing): up to $2,250/semester freshman & sophomore, up to $2,850/semester junior & senior; 2-year: up to $1,600/semester
- 3.00+ GPA, 1060+ SAT or 21+ ACT, HOPE Scholarship (entering freshmen); enroll within 16 months of HS graduation; FAFSA
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
31 of 31
Earn credit with a score of 3
28 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,180Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ARTH 2010 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 1010/1011 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIOL 1010/1011, 1020/1021 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 | MATH 1840 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | MATH 1840 OR 1910 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 1910,1920 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 1110/1111 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 1110/1111, 1120/1121 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Political Science Elective |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | Computer Science Elective |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CSCI 1200 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 1010 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 6 | ENGL 1010,1020 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 2030 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | ENVH 3010 |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST 1110, 1120 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FREN 1010, 1020 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | FREN 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | FREN 1010,1020, 2010, 2020 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GERM 1010, 1020 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | GERM 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | GERM 1010,1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOS 1012 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | JAPN 1010,1020 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | JAPN 1010, 1020, 2010 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | JAPN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Latin | 3 | 6 | LATN 1010, 1020 |
| Latin | 4 | 9 | LATN 1010,1020, 2010 |
| Latin | 5 | 12 | LATN 1010,1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2210 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2220 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 4 | MUSC 1100 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 8 | PHYS 2010/11, 2020/21 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 8 | PHYS 2010/11, 2020/21 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 6 | Math 1710, 1720 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 1310 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | GEEL 1001 - General Elective Credit |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | GEEL 1001 - General Elective Credit |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 1010,1020 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 9 | SPAN 1010,1020, 2010 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 12 | SPAN 1010,1020, 2010, 2020 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 1530 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 1120 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 2010, 2020 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HIST 1110, 1120 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
55%
Come back for a second year
76%
Typical earnings
$48,646
a year, 10 years after starting here
- East Tennessee State University$77,809
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 35 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with East Tennessee State University. The East Tennessee State University logo is a trademark of the college.