Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks East Tennessee State University #470 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,033, placing East Tennessee State University in the 12.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $3,338 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 44.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks East Tennessee State University #324 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- East Tennessee State University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of delivering earnings that exceed what similar students achieve at comparable institutions, anchored by a dominant health sciences portfolio that connects graduates to stable, in-demand careers. The university's post-graduation affordability standing reinforces that picture — graduates enter the workforce with earnings that hold up well relative to the debt levels typical of a Tennessee public institution.
Azimuth ranks East Tennessee State University #470 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Johnson City, TN, East Tennessee State University enrolls roughly 10,004 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 53.2%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by what East Tennessee State University delivers for its students relative to expectations. Graduates earn about $3,338 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing East Tennessee State University in the 44.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Health shapes this outcome — health-oriented graduates enter fields with stable hiring demand and predictable wage floors, which helps the institution convert enrollment into earnings at rates that outpace what comparable institutions achieve with similar students. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. 34.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.7% are first-generation college students, signaling that East Tennessee State University serves a broad, cost-sensitive population. The institution sits in the 77.3 percentile for affordability and the 79.9 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting its role as a regional public university that keeps its doors open to students who might not otherwise pursue a four-year degree. Mobility sits in the 76.1 percentile, shaped by the earnings outcomes that health and professional programs tend to generate in regional labor markets across TN.
East Tennessee State University's published cost of attendance is $27,042. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,433, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $14,289, middle-income families pay about $16,400, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $20,588, and higher-income families pay roughly $21,193. Azimuth ranks East Tennessee State University #324 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects both the institution's public-tuition structure and the net-price outcomes across income bands. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. East Tennessee State University funds need-based aid through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The combination of modest sticker price and broad need-based aid availability makes the institution accessible to students across income levels, particularly those from low- and middle-income backgrounds. The financial aid structure prioritizes closing the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, supported by the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,442, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,938; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,033, median federal debt of $19,442 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
East Tennessee State University is a strong fit for students drawn to health sciences, nursing, and allied health fields who want an affordable public university experience in the TN region. Graduates earn about $3,338 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing East Tennessee State University in the 44.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a meaningful signal for students whose program choices align with the university's dominant Health concentration. East Tennessee State University enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 34.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.7% are first-generation — and the institution's low-income graduate earnings place it in the 14.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Median debt at graduation is $19,442, keeping borrowing in a range that aligns with the earnings profile for most health and applied-field graduates. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in health and applied professional fields, so students whose interests fall outside those areas may find a narrower range of high-return options; and the broadly accessible admission rate means the competitive differentiator is program fit and career alignment rather than selectivity.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the East Tennessee State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
8 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
91 graduates
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General
52 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
502 graduates
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
29 graduates
East Tennessee State University's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature that reflects the university's regional identity as a comprehensive public institution serving the healthcare and workforce needs of northeastern Tennessee. Health programs account for 13% of graduates, with Arts representing 4% and Education contributing 3% — a distribution that positions the university closer to health-sciences-focused regional institutions than to broad research flagships.
The largest programs by graduate volume are Nursing, Psychology, General, and Business Administration, which together define the institution's core degree output and connect graduates to stable, in-demand regional labor markets. The strongest earnings outcomes at East Tennessee State University are concentrated in health and applied technical fields.
The Artificial Intelligence program graduates 91 students four years after enrollment with median earnings of $82,073, and Azimuth ranks the program #134 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a strong national position for a regional public institution, per the [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) methodology. Nursing and Digital Marketing follow closely, with graduates earning $74,311 and $58,583 respectively four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks Nursing #190 and Digital Marketing #153 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The institution's highest-aggregate-return program — Nursing — combines meaningful cohort scale with competitive earnings, making it a key contributor to the university's overall financial outcomes. Many of East Tennessee State University's strongest programs are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways in nursing, allied health, and applied sciences, where graduates enter regional and national labor markets immediately after graduation and four-year earnings closely reflect actual career outcomes.
Fields like Kinesiology and General Studies serve important regional workforce roles but tend toward local-labor markets, where earnings are shaped by public-sector and community-service compensation structures. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides useful context for how health and applied professional fields align with current labor-market demand across the region.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock Similar quality tier (#15480 ranked) | AR | 59% | $45,265 | #15480 | Compare |
Vermont State University Similar quality tier (#15489 ranked) | VT | 82% | $50,331 | #15489 | Compare |
Tennessee State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15492 ranked) | TN | 70% | $42,730 | #15492 | Compare |
State University Of New York At New Paltz Similar quality tier (#15466 ranked) | NY | 62% | $58,073 | #15466 | Compare |
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#15459 ranked) | NM | 92% | $38,550 | #15459 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
East Tennessee State University's published cost of attendance is $27,042. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,433, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $14,289, middle-income families pay about $16,400, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $20,588, and higher-income families pay roughly $21,193.
Azimuth ranks East Tennessee State University #324 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects both the institution's public-tuition structure and the net-price outcomes across income bands.
Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. East Tennessee State University funds need-based aid through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources.
The combination of modest sticker price and broad need-based aid availability makes the institution accessible to students across income levels, particularly those from low- and middle-income backgrounds. The financial aid structure prioritizes closing the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, supported by the institution's commitment to meeting demonstrated need.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,442, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,938; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,033, median federal debt of $19,442 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of East Tennessee State University earn median 4-year earnings of $53,033, placing East Tennessee State University in the 12.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,338 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing East Tennessee State University in the 44.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks East Tennessee State University #1108 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. East Tennessee State University also sits in the 14.8 percentile for low-income graduate median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon.
The earnings pattern at East Tennessee State University reflects a program mix anchored in Health, with Business accounting for 13% of graduates, Arts for 4%, and Education for 3%. Nursing stands out as the highest aggregate-return program, combining cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
Nursing is the largest program with 502 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $74,311, and Azimuth ranks it #190 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General follows with 159 graduates earning median four-year earnings of $42,358, with Azimuth ranking the program #267 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Among the highest-earning programs, Business Administration program graduates 134 students with median four-year earnings of $55,719, while Kinesiology and General Studies round out the top quartile with median four-year earnings of $47,821 and $44,738, respectively — fields where TN's regional labor market supports steady hiring demand.
