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Middle Tennessee State University WCU Tennessee Austin Peay State University ECU WSC KSU Tennessee Tech Milligan College Memphis Carson-Newman College UTC| University of Nebraska at Kearney | East Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UNK | ETSU | ||
| Location | Kearney, NE | Johnson City, TN | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,041 | 13,483 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #571 | #652 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | unk.edu | etsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UNK | ETSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $6,220 | $7,722 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,036 | $11,532 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,390 | $9,613 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,564 | $14,350 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,282 | $8,739 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
UNK | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,794 | 9,609 | ||
| Admitted | 5,842 | 8,193 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 85.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.8% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1000/1200 | 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 |
UNK | ETSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UNK | ETSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 61% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,400 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,250 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $211 |
Diversity |
UNK | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
UNK | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 85% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 23% | ||
Campus |
UNK | ETSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- East Tennessee State University is larger than than UNK based on total student enrollment (13,483 students vs. 6,041 students)
UNK vs. ETSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UNK or ETSU?
- East Tennessee State University is 24.1% more expensive to attend than UNK for in-state tuition ($7,722.00 vs. $6,220.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.4% higher at UNK than East Tennessee State University ($12,036.00 vs. $11,532.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than UNK ($14,350 vs. $16,564)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 18.5% lower than costs at University of Nebraska at Kearney ($9,613 vs. $11,390)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney as East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is 20% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,739 vs. $7,282)
UNK vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UNK or ETSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ETSU or UNK .
- The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 19 points higher than at UNK (1049)
- Incoming UNK students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at ETSU (23)
- Accepted freshman ETSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at UNK (3.24)
- UNK has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than ETSU (85.3%)
UNK vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UNK 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 UNK.
- The graduation rate at UNK is higher than East Tennessee State University (61% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn on average $3,400 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($43,400 vs. $40,000)
- East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than UNK graduates. ($20,500 vs. $21,250)
- ETSU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than UNK graduates. ($211 vs. $219)
- More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/