ETSU vs. WVU

Deciding between East Tennessee State University and West Virginia 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
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • ETSU Small City
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ETSU 13,728
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ETSU #650
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ETSU -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ETSU
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ETSU $10,472
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ETSU $14,522
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • ETSU $10,554
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • ETSU $16,286
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ETSU $10,101
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ETSU 87%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ETSU 10,050
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • ETSU 8,662
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ETSU 1090
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • ETSU 22
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ETSU 3.33
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ETSU B+
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ETSU Moderate
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • ETSU
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • ETSU 19/26
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ETSU Test optional
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ETSU
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ETSU 15:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ETSU 44%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ETSU $40,000
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ETSU 50%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ETSU $20,500
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ETSU $211
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ETSU 39%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • ETSU 61%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ETSU Very Low
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • ETSU No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • ETSU 82%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • ETSU 1%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • ETSU 7%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ETSU 2%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • ETSU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ETSU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ETSU 3%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • ETSU 3%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ETSU 1%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ETSU 74%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ETSU 24%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

West Virginia University is larger than ETSU based on total student enrollment (23,643 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); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: East Tennessee State University 15:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

ETSU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ETSU or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than ETSU ($15,169 vs. $16,286).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 27.6% lower than at West Virginia University ($10,554 vs. $14,582).
  • East Tennessee State University is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $368 more per year; $10,472.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97% higher at WVU than at East Tennessee State University (about $14,086 more per year; $28,608.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at East Tennessee State University (94% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 22.4% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($12,363 vs. $10,101).

ETSU vs. WVU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at West Virginia University (1120) is 30 points higher than at ETSU (1090).
  • Incoming WVU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (23 vs. 22 at ETSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Tennessee State University 980/1200; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: East Tennessee State University 19/26; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ETSU - Test optional; WVU - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman WVU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at ETSU (3.33).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than ETSU (86.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.7% at ETSU vs. 24.8% at WVU.

ETSU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ETSU and WVU? 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.

  • West Virginia University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than East Tennessee State University's (44%).
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than ETSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University graduates have a $3,501 lower median loan debt than WVU graduates ($20,500 vs. $24,001).
  • Among borrowers, ETSU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WVU graduates ($211 vs. $248).
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.