Lipscomb vs. ETSU

Deciding between Lipscomb University and East Tennessee State 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.

Lipscomb University
East Tennessee State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lipscomb Nashville, TN
  • ETSU Johnson City, TN
  • Setting
  • Lipscomb Large City
  • ETSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lipscomb 5,017
  • ETSU 13,728
  • Type
  • Lipscomb Private 4 Year
  • ETSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lipscomb #267
  • ETSU #650
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lipscomb Churches of Christ
  • ETSU -
  • Status
  • Lipscomb Non-profit
  • ETSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lipscomb
  • ETSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • ETSU $10,472
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • ETSU $14,522
  • Room & Board
  • Lipscomb $15,424
  • ETSU $10,554
  • Average Net Price
  • Lipscomb $27,695
  • ETSU $16,286
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lipscomb $28,645
  • ETSU $10,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lipscomb 100%
  • ETSU 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lipscomb 4,261
  • ETSU 10,050
  • Admitted
  • Lipscomb 2,886
  • ETSU 8,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lipscomb 67.7%
  • ETSU 86.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Lipscomb 24.9%
  • ETSU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lipscomb 1270
  • ETSU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lipscomb 26
  • ETSU 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lipscomb 3.73
  • ETSU 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lipscomb A-
  • ETSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lipscomb Difficult
  • ETSU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lipscomb Low
  • ETSU
  • ACT Range
  • Lipscomb 23/30
  • ETSU 19/26
  • SAT Range
  • Lipscomb 1160/1380
  • ETSU 980/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lipscomb Test optional
  • ETSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lipscomb
  • ETSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lipscomb 13:1
  • ETSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lipscomb
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • ETSU
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • ETSU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lipscomb $46,900
  • ETSU $40,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lipscomb 68%
  • ETSU 50%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lipscomb $20,500
  • ETSU $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lipscomb $211
  • ETSU $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lipscomb 37%
  • ETSU 39%
  • % Women
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • ETSU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lipscomb Low
  • ETSU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Lipscomb No
  • ETSU No
  • % White
  • Lipscomb 77%
  • ETSU 82%
  • % Asian
  • Lipscomb 3%
  • ETSU 1%
  • % Black
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • ETSU 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • ETSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • ETSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % International
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • ETSU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • ETSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • ETSU 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lipscomb 34%
  • ETSU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

East Tennessee State University is larger than Lipscomb based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 5,017 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lipscomb University is located in Nashville, TN (Large City setting); East Tennessee State University is in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting).
  • Lipscomb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lipscomb University 13:1; East Tennessee State University 15:1.

Lipscomb vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lipscomb or ETSU? 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 Lipscomb ($16,286 vs. $27,695).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 31.6% lower than at Lipscomb University ($10,554 vs. $15,424).
  • Lipscomb University is 287.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ETSU (about $30,100 more per year; $40,572.00 vs. $10,472.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 179.4% higher at Lipscomb than at East Tennessee State University (about $26,050 more per year; $40,572.00 vs. $14,522.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lipscomb University than at East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lipscomb University students is 183.6% larger than aid received by East Tennessee State University students ($28,645 vs. $10,101).

Lipscomb vs. ETSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lipscomb University (1270) is 180 points higher than at ETSU (1090).
  • Incoming Lipscomb students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at ETSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lipscomb University 1160/1380; East Tennessee State University 980/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lipscomb University 23/30; East Tennessee State University 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lipscomb - Test optional; ETSU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Lipscomb students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at ETSU (3.33).
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Lipscomb (67.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.9% at Lipscomb vs. 24.7% at ETSU.

Lipscomb vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lipscomb and ETSU? 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).

  • Lipscomb University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than East Tennessee State University's (44%).
  • Graduates from Lipscomb University earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than ETSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,900 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Tennessee State University and Lipscomb graduates have the same median loan debt ($20,500 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, East Tennessee State University and Lipscomb graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($211 vs. $211).
  • More Lipscomb graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.