ETSU vs. Marshall University

Should I go to East Tennessee State University or Marshall University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ETSU or Marshall University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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East Tennessee State University vs. Marshall University comparison
East Tennessee State University Marshall University College 3 College 4
East Tennessee State University Marshall University
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Overview

ETSU Marshall University
Location Johnson City, TN Huntington, WV
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 13,483 10,691
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #652 #813
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website etsu.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ETSU Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $7,722 $7,190
Tuition (Out of State) $11,532 $18,244
Room & Board $9,613 $11,840
Avg Net Price $14,350 $8,756
Avg Grant Aid $8,739 $11,221
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

ETSU Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,609 6,356
Admitted 8,193 6,158
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 96.9%
Enrolled % 25.1% 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 19/25
SAT Range 980/1190 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

ETSU Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

ETSU Marshall University
Graduation Rate 44% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $211 $239

Diversity

ETSU Marshall University
% Men 37% 40%
% Women 63% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 84%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

ETSU Marshall University
% In-State 75% 79%
% Out-of-State 23% 20%

Campus

ETSU Marshall University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than Marshall University based on total student enrollment (13,483 students vs. 10,691 students)

ETSU vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ETSU or Marshall University?

  • East Tennessee State University is 7.4% more expensive to attend than Marshall University for in-state tuition ($7,722.00 vs. $7,190.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.2% higher at Marshall University than East Tennessee State University ($18,244.00 vs. $11,532.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than ETSU ($8,756 vs. $14,350)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 23.2% lower than costs at Marshall University ($9,613 vs. $11,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at East Tennessee State University than Marshall University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marshall University students is 28.4% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($11,221 vs. $8,739)

ETSU vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ETSU or Marshall University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Marshall University or ETSU .

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 40 points higher than at Marshall University (1028)
  • Incoming ETSU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at Marshall University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than ETSU (85.3%)

ETSU vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ETSU or Marshall University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Marshall University and ETSU.

  • The graduation rate at ETSU is the same as at Marshall University (44% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Marshall University earn on average $200 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $40,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $2,634 lower median federal student loan debt than Marshall University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,134)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Marshall University graduates. ($211 vs. $239)
  • More ETSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/