ETSU vs. AU

Deciding between East Tennessee State University and Averett University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

East Tennessee State University
Averett University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • AU Danville, VA
  • Setting
  • ETSU Small City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ETSU 13,728
  • AU 1,476
  • Type
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ETSU #650
  • AU #637
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ETSU -
  • AU -
  • Status
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ETSU
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ETSU $10,472
  • AU $38,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ETSU $14,522
  • AU $38,550
  • Room & Board
  • ETSU $10,554
  • AU $14,530
  • Average Net Price
  • ETSU $16,286
  • AU $23,471
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ETSU $10,101
  • AU $29,998
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ETSU 87%
  • AU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ETSU 10,050
  • AU 2,573
  • Admitted
  • ETSU 8,662
  • AU 1,456
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • AU 56.6%
  • Enrolled
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • AU 18.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ETSU 1090
  • AU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • ETSU 22
  • AU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • ETSU 3.33
  • AU 3.07
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ETSU B+
  • AU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ETSU Moderate
  • AU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ETSU
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ETSU 19/26
  • AU 15/28
  • SAT Range
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • AU 926/1143
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ETSU Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ETSU
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ETSU 15:1
  • AU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ETSU 44%
  • AU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ETSU $40,000
  • AU $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ETSU 50%
  • AU 51%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ETSU $20,500
  • AU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ETSU $211
  • AU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ETSU 39%
  • AU 45%
  • % Women
  • ETSU 61%
  • AU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ETSU Very Low
  • AU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ETSU No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • ETSU 82%
  • AU 58%
  • % Asian
  • ETSU 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • ETSU 7%
  • AU 33%
  • % Hispanic
  • ETSU 2%
  • AU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ETSU 0%
  • AU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ETSU 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ETSU 3%
  • AU 0%
  • % International
  • ETSU 3%
  • AU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ETSU 1%
  • AU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ETSU 74%
  • AU 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ETSU 24%
  • AU 39%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ETSU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ETSU No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ETSU Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ETSU Yes
  • AU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ETSU Yes
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN with Averett University in Danville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Tennessee State University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting); Averett University is in Danville, VA (Small City setting).
  • East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Tennessee State University 15:1; Averett University 16:1.

ETSU vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ETSU or AU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than AU ($16,286 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 27.4% lower than at Averett University ($10,554 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 268.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $28,078 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $10,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 165.5% higher at AU than at East Tennessee State University (about $24,028 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at East Tennessee State University (99% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 197% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($29,998 vs. $10,101).

ETSU vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ETSU or AU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AU and ETSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Tennessee State University (1090) is 60 points higher than at AU (1030).
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Tennessee State University 980/1200; Averett University 926/1143.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Tennessee State University 19/26; Averett University 15/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ETSU - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman ETSU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at AU (3.07).
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.7% at ETSU vs. 18.1% at AU.

ETSU vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ETSU and AU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • East Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Averett University's (41%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than ETSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($211 vs. $258).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.