ETSU vs. KSU

Deciding between East Tennessee State University and Kennesaw State 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • KSU Kennesaw, GA
  • Setting
  • ETSU Small City
  • KSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ETSU 13,728
  • KSU 47,764
  • Type
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • KSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ETSU #650
  • KSU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ETSU -
  • KSU -
  • Status
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • KSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ETSU
  • KSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ETSU $10,472
  • KSU $5,808
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ETSU $14,522
  • KSU $17,736
  • Room & Board
  • ETSU $10,554
  • KSU $13,287
  • Average Net Price
  • ETSU $16,286
  • KSU $15,636
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ETSU $10,101
  • KSU $8,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ETSU 87%
  • KSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ETSU 10,050
  • KSU 34,680
  • Admitted
  • ETSU 8,662
  • KSU 23,995
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • KSU 69.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • KSU 38%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ETSU 1090
  • KSU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • ETSU 22
  • KSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ETSU 3.33
  • KSU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ETSU B+
  • KSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ETSU Moderate
  • KSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ETSU
  • KSU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ETSU 19/26
  • KSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • KSU 1000/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ETSU Test optional
  • KSU Required
  • Application Deadline
  • ETSU
  • KSU Jun 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ETSU 15:1
  • KSU 23:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • KSU

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ETSU 44%
  • KSU -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ETSU $40,000
  • KSU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ETSU 50%
  • KSU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ETSU $20,500
  • KSU $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ETSU $211
  • KSU $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ETSU 39%
  • KSU 49%
  • % Women
  • ETSU 61%
  • KSU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ETSU Very Low
  • KSU High
  • HBCU
  • ETSU No
  • KSU No
  • % White
  • ETSU 82%
  • KSU 58%
  • % Asian
  • ETSU 1%
  • KSU 4%
  • % Black
  • ETSU 7%
  • KSU 20%
  • % Hispanic
  • ETSU 2%
  • KSU 9%
  • % Native American
  • ETSU 0%
  • KSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ETSU 0%
  • KSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ETSU 3%
  • KSU 4%
  • % International
  • ETSU 3%
  • KSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ETSU 1%
  • KSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ETSU 74%
  • KSU 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ETSU 24%
  • KSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Kennesaw State University is larger than ETSU based on total student enrollment (47,764 students vs. 13,728 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting); Kennesaw State University is in Kennesaw, GA (Large Suburban setting).
  • East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kennesaw State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Tennessee State University 15:1; Kennesaw State University 23:1.

ETSU vs. KSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ETSU or KSU? 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 Kennesaw State University than ETSU ($15,636 vs. $16,286).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 20.6% lower than at Kennesaw State University ($10,554 vs. $13,287).
  • East Tennessee State University is 80.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than KSU (about $4,664 more per year; $10,472.00 vs. $5,808.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at KSU than at East Tennessee State University (about $3,214 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kennesaw State University than at East Tennessee State University (92% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is 22.8% larger than aid received by Kennesaw State University students ($10,101 vs. $8,223).

ETSU vs. KSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ETSU or KSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between KSU and ETSU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Kennesaw State University (1110) is 20 points higher than at ETSU (1090).
  • Incoming ETSU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 22) as students at KSU (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Tennessee State University 980/1200; Kennesaw State University 1000/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Tennessee State University 19/26; Kennesaw State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ETSU - Test optional; KSU - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: KSU Jun 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman ETSU students have the same average high school GPA (3.33) as students at KSU (3.33).
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than KSU (69.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.7% at ETSU vs. 38% at KSU.

ETSU vs. KSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ETSU and KSU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • East Tennessee State University's six-year graduation rate is 44%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for KSU.
  • Graduates from East Tennessee State University have median earnings of about $40,000 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for KSU.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $700 lower median loan debt than KSU graduates ($20,500 vs. $21,200).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than KSU graduates ($211 vs. $219).
  • More KSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.