East Tennessee State University Acceptance Rate
Johnson City, Tennessee · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 9,903
- Admitted
- 8,622
- Yield
- 24.8%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, East Tennessee State University's acceptance rate has fallen from 91.7% in 2014–15 to 87.1% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 5,252 to 9,903 (+89%) over that period.
Its 87.1% rate makes East Tennessee State University more selective than about 27% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 33 tracked Tennessee schools, it is more selective than about 21%.
East Tennessee State University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 24.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,252 | 4,818 | 91.7% | 2,055 |
| 2015–16 | 8,253 | 6,538 | 79.2% | 1,999 |
| 2016–17 | 6,832 | 6,261 | 91.6% | 1,886 |
| 2017–18 | 8,169 | 6,982 | 85.5% | 2,050 |
| 2018–19 | 8,009 | 6,978 | 87.1% | 1,976 |
| 2019–20 | 7,704 | 6,620 | 85.9% | 1,786 |
| 2020–21 | 8,686 | 6,808 | 78.4% | 1,651 |
| 2021–22 | 8,563 | 7,484 | 87.4% | 1,856 |
| 2022–23 | 9,609 | 8,193 | 85.3% | 2,056 |
| 2023–24 | 9,903 | 8,622 | 87.1% | 2,141 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,545 | 5,741 | 87.7% |
| Men | 3,355 | 2,880 | 85.8% |
| Unknown | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 490–600 | 7% |
| SAT Math | 460–570 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–26 | 80% |
How East Tennessee State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is East Tennessee State University's acceptance rate?
East Tennessee State University's acceptance rate is 87.1% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (8,622 admitted of 9,903 applicants).
Is East Tennessee State University test optional?
East Tennessee State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to East Tennessee State University?
East Tennessee State University received 9,903 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 8,622.
What SAT score do you need for East Tennessee State University?
Admitted students at East Tennessee State University typically scored 490–600 on SAT Reading/Writing and 460–570 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is East Tennessee State University getting harder to get into?
East Tennessee State University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 91.7% in 2014–15 to 87.1% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.etsu.edu/.