Piedmont College vs. ETSU

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

Piedmont College ETSU
Location Demorest, GA Johnson City, TN
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 1,840 13,586
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #718 #702
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website piedmont.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Piedmont College ETSU
Tuition (In State) $30,200 $7,950
Tuition (Out of State) $30,200 $11,790
Room & Board $12,300 $10,270
Avg Net Price $21,599 $16,033
Avg Grant Aid $23,701 $9,228
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 85%

Admission

Piedmont College ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,066 9,903
Admitted 1,918 8,622
Acceptance Rate 92.8% 87.1%
Enrolled % 14.9% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.54 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/26
SAT Range 990/1170 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 Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Piedmont College ETSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (40%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Social Sciences (4%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Piedmont College ETSU
Graduation Rate 46% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,000 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,736 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $245 $211

Diversity

Piedmont College ETSU
% Men 5% 7%
% Women 26% 14%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 82%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

Piedmont College ETSU
% In-State 85% 78%
% Out-of-State 14% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than Piedmont College based on total student enrollment (13,586 students vs. 1,840 students)

Piedmont College vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Piedmont College or ETSU?

  • Piedmont College is 279.9% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($30,200.00 vs. $7,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 156.1% higher at Piedmont College than East Tennessee State University ($30,200.00 vs. $11,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than Piedmont College ($16,033 vs. $21,599)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 19.8% lower than costs at Piedmont College ($10,270 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Piedmont College than East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont College students is 156.8% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($23,701 vs. $9,228)

Piedmont College vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 73 points higher than at Piedmont College (995)
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Piedmont College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Piedmont College students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • Piedmont College has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than ETSU (87.1%)

Piedmont College vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Piedmont College 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 Piedmont College.

  • The graduation rate at Piedmont College is higher than East Tennessee State University (46% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Piedmont College earn on average $1,000 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $40,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $3,236 lower median federal student loan debt than Piedmont College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $23,736)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Piedmont College graduates. ($211 vs. $245)
  • More ETSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Piedmont College students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 44%)

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