East Tennessee State University vs The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

East Tennessee State University and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is more selective with a 77.0% acceptance rate compared to East Tennessee State University's 87.1%. Average SAT scores are 1114 and 1117 respectively.

Cost: The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga offers a lower average net price at $12,817, which is $2,977 less than East Tennessee State University ($15,794). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga earn a median salary of $51,151 ten years after enrollment, which is $6,292 more than East Tennessee State University graduates ($44,859).

Graduation: The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga leads with a 52.7% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 73.9% vs 74.5%.

Campus Size: The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga is the larger campus with 9,878 total students, while East Tennessee State University has 9,807.

Bottom Line: The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.