St. Cloud State University vs. ETSU

Should I go to Saint Cloud State University or East Tennessee State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if St. Cloud State University 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Saint Cloud State University vs. East Tennessee State University comparison
Saint Cloud State University East Tennessee State University College 3 College 4
Saint Cloud State University East Tennessee State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

St. Cloud State University ETSU
Location Saint Cloud, MN Johnson City, TN
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 10,420 13,483
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #710 #652
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stcloudstate.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

St. Cloud State University ETSU
Tuition (In State) $8,811 $7,722
Tuition (Out of State) $18,695 $11,532
Room & Board $9,950 $9,613
Avg Net Price $14,065 $14,350
Avg Grant Aid $6,042 $8,739
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

St. Cloud State University ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,810 9,609
Admitted 4,583 8,193
Acceptance Rate 95.3% 85.3%
Enrolled % 16.8% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/26
SAT Range 1027/1200 980/1190
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

St. Cloud State University ETSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

St. Cloud State University ETSU
Graduation Rate 48% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,700 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $211

Diversity

St. Cloud State University ETSU
% Men 43% 37%
% Women 57% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 82%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

St. Cloud State University ETSU
% In-State 75% 75%
% Out-of-State 11% 23%

Campus

St. Cloud State University ETSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than St. Cloud State University based on total student enrollment (13,483 students vs. 10,420 students)

St. Cloud State University vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Cloud State University or ETSU?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 14.1% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $7,722.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.1% higher at St. Cloud State University than East Tennessee State University ($18,695.00 vs. $11,532.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than ETSU ($14,065 vs. $14,350)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 3.5% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($9,613 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at East Tennessee State University than Saint Cloud State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is 44.6% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($8,739 vs. $6,042)

St. Cloud State University vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 38 points higher than at St. Cloud State University (1030)
  • Incoming ETSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at St. Cloud State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than ETSU (85.3%)

St. Cloud State University vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, St. Cloud State University 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 St. Cloud State University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than East Tennessee State University (48% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $6,700 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $40,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $22,500)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($211 vs. $232)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 50%)

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