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Is East Tennessee State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for East Tennessee State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
East Tennessee State sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $44,859 helps, but median debt of $19,442 plus yearly net price of $15,983 creates a tighter path. For context, East Tennessee State's net price runs about 22% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$16,033
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $2,879 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $12,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$15,983
Median earnings 10 years out
$44,859
Median debt at graduation
$19,442
Graduation rate
52%
At East Tennessee State, a typical graduate carries about $19,442 in student debt and earns roughly $44,859 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $221 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
East Tennessee State is a public four year school in Johnson City, TN. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
Tennessee State
Nashville, TN
Worth-It Score: 48/100
Median net price: $15,796
Public 4-year
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $14,265
Public 4-year
Tennessee Technological
Cookeville, TN
Worth-It Score: 64/100
Median net price: $14,246
Public 4-year
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Worth-It Score: 73/100
Median net price: $18,976
Public 4-year
Middle Tennessee State
Murfreesboro, TN
Worth-It Score: 65/100
Median net price: $13,359
Common questions about East Tennessee State
The median net price at East Tennessee State is $15,983 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Tennessee? See the most affordable public universities in Tennessee →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →