After East Tennessee State University: graduation, pay and debt
Johnson City, Tennessee · Public · 10,004 undergrads
50% of East Tennessee State University students finish within six years, the typical student earns $48,646 ten years after starting and graduates leave with $18,636 in federal loans at the median.
The short answers
$48.6k
median pay 10 years after starting college.
50%
finish within six years.
34%
finish in four years.
76%
of first-years come back for year two.
$18.6k
median federal debt at graduation.
51%
of borrowers were paying down their loans three years after leaving.
All the federal numbers
Finishing
Finished in four yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
34%
Finished within six yearsIPEDS, fall 2023
50%
First-years who came back for year twoCollege Scorecard, fall 2024
76%
Men who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
44%
Women who finished within six yearsIPEDS, students who started in 2017
55%
Students in that six-year groupIPEDS, students who started in 2017
2,033
Earned a degree or certificate here within eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
53%
Still enrolled here after eight yearsIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
26%
Students in that eight-year groupIPEDS, full-time students who started in 2015
2,077
Transferred to another collegeCollege Scorecard, earlier release
23%
Pay after college
Median pay 6 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard
$43,384
Median pay 10 years after starting collegeCollege Scorecard, 2022-23
$48,646
Earning more than $25,000 six years after startingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
58%
Debt and paying it back
Median federal debt, students who graduatedCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
$18,636
Median federal debt, everyone who borrowed (finished or not)College Scorecard, earlier release
$14,400
Median federal debt, students with a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$15,500
Median federal debt, students without a Pell GrantCollege Scorecard, earlier release
$12,500
Paying down their loans 3 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, 2024-25
51%
Paying down their loans 5 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
58%
Paying down their loans 7 years after leavingCollege Scorecard, earlier release
64%
Where these numbers come from
- Admit rate and applicants: IPEDS, fall 2024 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Cost, pay and debt: College Scorecard, 2024-25 (checked Oct 31, 2026)
Updated Oct 31, 2026Spot a mistake?How we get our numbers