Converse College vs. ETSU

Should I go to Converse College or East Tennessee State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Converse College or ETSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Converse College vs. East Tennessee State University comparison
Converse College East Tennessee State University College 3 College 4
Converse College East Tennessee State University
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Overview

Converse College ETSU
Location Spartanburg, SC Johnson City, TN
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 1,341 13,586
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #722 #702
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website converse.edu etsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Converse College ETSU
Tuition (In State) $22,746 $7,950
Tuition (Out of State) $22,746 $11,790
Room & Board $13,424 $10,270
Avg Net Price $19,438 $16,033
Avg Grant Aid $16,312 $9,228
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 85%

Admission

Converse College ETSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,628 9,903
Admitted 1,682 8,622
Acceptance Rate 64% 87.1%
Enrolled % 13.4% 24.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/26 19/26
SAT Range 1030/1238 950/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Converse College ETSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (20%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Converse College ETSU
Graduation Rate 60% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $33,000 $40,000
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,952 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $278 $211

Diversity

Converse College ETSU
% Men 6% 7%
% Women 30% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 82%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

Converse College ETSU
% In-State 64% 78%
% Out-of-State 30% 20%

Campus

Converse College ETSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • East Tennessee State University is larger than than Converse College based on total student enrollment (13,586 students vs. 1,341 students)

Converse College vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Converse College or ETSU?

  • Converse College is 186.1% more expensive to attend than ETSU for in-state tuition ($22,746.00 vs. $7,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 92.9% higher at Converse College than East Tennessee State University ($22,746.00 vs. $11,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than Converse College ($16,033 vs. $19,438)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 30.7% lower than costs at Converse College ($10,270 vs. $13,424)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Converse College than East Tennessee State University (100% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Converse College students is 76.8% larger than aid received East Tennessee State University ($16,312 vs. $9,228)

Converse College vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Converse College or ETSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ETSU or Converse College .

  • The average SAT score at East Tennessee State University (1068) is 28 points higher than at Converse College (1040)
  • Incoming Converse College students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at ETSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Converse College students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at ETSU (3.33)
  • ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than Converse College (64%)

Converse College vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Converse College or ETSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ETSU and Converse College.

  • The graduation rate at Converse College is higher than East Tennessee State University (60% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than Converse College graduates after ten years. ($40,000 vs. $33,000)
  • East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $6,452 lower median federal student loan debt than Converse College graduates. ($20,500 vs. $26,952)
  • ETSU graduates are paying $67 less per month on federal student loans than Converse College graduates. ($211 vs. $278)
  • More Converse College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/