ETSU vs. Milligan

Should I go to East Tennessee State University or Milligan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ETSU or Milligan 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. Milligan University comparison
East Tennessee State University Milligan University College 3 College 4
East Tennessee State University Milligan University
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Overview

 ETSU Milligan
Location Johnson City, TN Milligan, TN
Setting Small City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 13,586 1,200
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #702
Religious Affiliation - Christian Churches and Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website etsu.edu milligan.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 ETSU Milligan
Tuition (In State) $7,950 $37,700
Tuition (Out of State) $11,790 $37,700
Room & Board $10,270 $8,000
Avg Net Price $16,033 $21,463
Avg Grant Aid $9,228 $28,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 100%

Admission

 ETSU Milligan
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,903 1,164
Admitted 8,622 818
Acceptance Rate 87.1% 70.3%
Enrolled % 24.8% 29.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.69
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 21/27
SAT Range 950/1170 1120/1290
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 28, 2026

Academics

 ETSU Milligan
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 ETSU Milligan
Graduation Rate 44% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,000 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 50% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,500
Median Loan Payment $211 $263

Diversity

 ETSU Milligan
% Men 7% 12%
% Women 14% 18%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 82%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 ETSU Milligan
% In-State 78% 50%
% Out-of-State 20% 47%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than Milligan based on total student enrollment (13,586 students vs. 1,200 students)

ETSU vs. Milligan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ETSU or Milligan?

  • Milligan University is 374.2% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($37,700.00 vs. $7,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 219.8% higher at Milligan than East Tennessee State University ($37,700.00 vs. $11,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than Milligan ($16,033 vs. $21,463)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milligan University are 28.4% lower than costs at East Tennessee State University ($8,000 vs. $10,270)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Milligan University than East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Milligan University students is 209.1% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($28,521 vs. $9,228)

ETSU vs. Milligan Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Milligan University (1128) is 60 points higher than at ETSU (1068)
  • Incoming Milligan students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at ETSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Milligan students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than Milligan (70.3%)

ETSU vs. Milligan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ETSU or Milligan? 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 Milligan and ETSU.

  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Milligan graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,500)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Milligan graduates. ($211 vs. $263)
  • More Milligan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 50%)

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