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ETSU Salaries

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Salaries by Major

Salaries by Major at East Tennessee State University

This page shows median first-year earnings for ETSU graduates by major, based on federal College Scorecard data. Six years after enrolling, former students who are working and no longer in school report average earnings of $31,500 per year; after ten years, average earnings are $40,000. See post-graduation earnings for full trends over time.

Below, majors are ranked by median first-year earnings.

The highest-paying undergraduate degree is Computer and Information Sciences, with median first-year earnings of $55,500 , followed by Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $50,400 , and Engineering Technology at $49,800 .

Among graduate and professional degree programs, the highest-paying program is Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree), with median first-year earnings of $110,200 , followed by Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degree) at $91,600 , and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) at $84,400 .

First-year earnings data come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and reflect IRS-reported income for East Tennessee State University graduates who received federal grants or loans. Some programs are omitted for privacy.

Median first-year earnings for East Tennessee State University graduates ranked by degree type and major
Major Earnings
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree) $110,200
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degree) $91,600
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) $84,400
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degree) $74,700
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degree) $67,600
Computer and Information Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $55,500
Medicine (First Professional Degree) $52,300
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree) $50,400
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degree) $50,000
Engineering Technology (Bachelor’s Degree) $49,800
Public Health (Master's Degree) $47,600
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $45,400
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Bachelor’s Degree) $43,400
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Bachelor’s Degree) $41,500
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degree) $41,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degree) $38,600
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $36,900
Social Work (Master's Degree) $36,300
Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor’s Degree) $35,300
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degree) $34,800
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,600
Marketing (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,000
Chemistry (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,700
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degree) $33,500
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,000
Public Health (Bachelor’s Degree) $31,100
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) $30,900
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,200
History (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,200
Human Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,200
Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies and Humanities (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,100
Social Work (Bachelor’s Degree) $26,800
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) $26,600
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $25,800
Political Science and Government (Bachelor’s Degree) $25,100
Biology (Bachelor’s Degree) $24,900
Psychology (Bachelor’s Degree) $23,000
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor’s Degree) $22,800
English Language and Literature (Bachelor’s Degree) $22,100
Sociology (Bachelor’s Degree) $21,600
Graphic Communications (Bachelor’s Degree) $19,500
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor’s Degree) $15,800

Other Colleges to Consider

Students considering East Tennessee State University often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=220075.

First-year earnings by major: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Last updated: August 2026