AccessibleUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

East Tennessee State University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 86%, East Tennessee State University is an accessible public university in Tennessee. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what East Tennessee State University weighs, where it ranks among Tennessee schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1140, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
86%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1140
of admitted students
Type
Public
Tennessee
Selectivity in state
#25
of 33 in TN
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Will I get into East Tennessee State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into East Tennessee State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into East Tennessee State University?

East Tennessee State University admits most qualified applicants (around 86%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for East Tennessee State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is East Tennessee State University hard to get into?

East Tennessee State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 86% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into East Tennessee State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at East Tennessee State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. East Tennessee State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for East Tennessee State University?

East Tennessee State University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1140. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at East Tennessee State University.

Calculate your chances at East Tennessee State University

What East Tennessee State University looks for

What East Tennessee State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, East Tennessee State University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from East Tennessee State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important

SAT score positioning at East Tennessee State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at East Tennessee State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100In the competitive admitted range
Colleges for a 1150 SAT →Colleges for a 23 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How East Tennessee State University compares in Tennessee

East Tennessee State University ranks #25 most selective of 33 schools in Tennessee in our database.

Among the 33 Tennessee schools we track, East Tennessee State University ranks #25 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Vanderbilt University (6%) and Fisk University (37%) sit nearby, which makes Tennessee a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Vanderbilt University
6%acceptance · TN
Fisk University
37%acceptance · TN
University of Tennessee
42%acceptance · TN
Bryan College
48%acceptance · TN
Rhodes College
50%acceptance · TN
Lane College
55%acceptance · TN
Sewanee - University of the South
57%acceptance · TN
Union University (TN)
60%acceptance · TN
See all Tennessee schools →

Similar to East Tennessee State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around East Tennessee State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Ball State University, Kent State University, and Lamar University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Ball State University
86%acceptance · IN
Kent State University
86%acceptance · OH
Lamar University
86%acceptance · TX
Louisiana Tech University
86%acceptance · LA
Murray State University
86%acceptance · KY
University of Arizona
86%acceptance · AZ

Frequently asked questions

What does East Tennessee State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, East Tennessee State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does East Tennessee State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, East Tennessee State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at East Tennessee State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at East Tennessee State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to East Tennessee State University?

As a public university, East Tennessee State University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

What are the admission requirements for East Tennessee State University?

East Tennessee State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.