ETSU vs. SU

Deciding between East Tennessee State University and Shenandoah 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
Shenandoah University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • Setting
  • ETSU Small City
  • SU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ETSU 13,728
  • SU 4,454
  • Type
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ETSU #650
  • SU #528
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ETSU -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ETSU
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ETSU $10,472
  • SU $36,950
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ETSU $14,522
  • SU $36,950
  • Room & Board
  • ETSU $10,554
  • SU $12,490
  • Average Net Price
  • ETSU $16,286
  • SU $27,181
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ETSU $10,101
  • SU $24,747
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ETSU 87%
  • SU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ETSU 10,050
  • SU 4,200
  • Admitted
  • ETSU 8,662
  • SU 3,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • SU 77%
  • Enrolled
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • SU 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ETSU 1090
  • SU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • ETSU 22
  • SU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ETSU 3.33
  • SU 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ETSU B+
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ETSU Moderate
  • SU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ETSU
  • SU
  • ACT Range
  • ETSU 19/26
  • SU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • SU 1010/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ETSU Test optional
  • SU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ETSU
  • SU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ETSU 15:1
  • SU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ETSU 44%
  • SU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ETSU $40,000
  • SU $48,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ETSU 50%
  • SU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ETSU $20,500
  • SU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ETSU $211
  • SU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ETSU 39%
  • SU 30%
  • % Women
  • ETSU 61%
  • SU 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ETSU Very Low
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ETSU No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • ETSU 82%
  • SU 59%
  • % Asian
  • ETSU 1%
  • SU 3%
  • % Black
  • ETSU 7%
  • SU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ETSU 2%
  • SU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ETSU 0%
  • SU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ETSU 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ETSU 3%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • ETSU 3%
  • SU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ETSU 1%
  • SU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ETSU 74%
  • SU 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ETSU 24%
  • SU 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

East Tennessee State University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting); Shenandoah University is in Winchester, VA (Small City setting).
  • East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Tennessee State University 15:1; Shenandoah University 12:1.

ETSU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ETSU or SU? 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 SU ($16,286 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 15.5% lower than at Shenandoah University ($10,554 vs. $12,490).
  • Shenandoah University is 252.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $26,478 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $10,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 154.4% higher at SU than at East Tennessee State University (about $22,428 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 145% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($24,747 vs. $10,101).

ETSU vs. SU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ETSU or SU? 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 SU and ETSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shenandoah University (1120) is 30 points higher than at ETSU (1090).
  • Incoming ETSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 22) as students at SU (22).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Tennessee State University 980/1200; Shenandoah University 1010/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Tennessee State University 19/26; Shenandoah University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ETSU - Test optional; SU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at ETSU (3.33).
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.7% at ETSU vs. 16.7% at SU.

ETSU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ETSU and SU? 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).

  • Shenandoah University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than East Tennessee State University's (44%).
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than ETSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 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 SU graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($211 vs. $258).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.