GS vs. ETSU

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

 GS ETSU
Location Statesboro, GA Johnson City, TN
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 26,041 13,586
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #931 #702
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website georgiasouthern.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 GS ETSU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $7,950
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $11,790
Room & Board $10,993 $10,270
Avg Net Price $16,957 $16,033
Avg Grant Aid $8,075 $9,228
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 85%

Admission

 GS ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,410 9,903
Admitted 12,916 8,622
Acceptance Rate 89.6% 87.1%
Enrolled % 36.8% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 19/26
SAT Range 980/1160 950/1170
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 May 1, 2026

Academics

 GS ETSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 24:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 GS ETSU
Graduation Rate 47% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $237 $211

Diversity

 GS ETSU
% Men 4% 7%
% Women 10% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 82%
% Black 26% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 GS ETSU
% In-State 91% 78%
% Out-of-State 7% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Georgia Southern University is larger than than ETSU based on total student enrollment (26,041 students vs. 13,586 students)

GS vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GS or ETSU?

  • East Tennessee State University is 81.9% more expensive to attend than GS for in-state tuition ($7,950.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at GS than East Tennessee State University ($15,425.00 vs. $11,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than GS ($16,033 vs. $16,957)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 7% lower than costs at Georgia Southern University ($10,270 vs. $10,993)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Georgia Southern University than East Tennessee State University (89% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is 14.3% larger than aid received Georgia Southern University ($9,228 vs. $8,075)

GS vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Georgia Southern University (1089) is 21 points higher than at ETSU (1068)
  • Incoming GS students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at ETSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman GS students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • GS has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than ETSU (87.1%)

GS vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at GS is higher than East Tennessee State University (47% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Georgia Southern University earn on average $4,800 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $40,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than GS graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,000)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than GS graduates. ($211 vs. $237)
  • More GS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 50%)

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