Gordon vs. ETSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA with East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Tennessee State University is larger than Gordon based on total student enrollment (13,728 students vs. 3,179 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, GA (Distant Town setting); East Tennessee State University is in Johnson City, TN (Small City setting).
• Gordon State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. East Tennessee State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Gordon State College 20:1; East Tennessee State University 15:1.

Gordon vs. ETSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon or ETSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gordon State College than ETSU ($7,807 vs. $16,286).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon State College are 1% lower than at East Tennessee State University ($10,444 vs. $10,554).
• East Tennessee State University is 188.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon (about $6,844 more per year; $10,472.00 vs. $3,628.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.6% higher at ETSU than at Gordon State College (about $3,574 more per year; $14,522.00 vs. $10,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gordon State College than at East Tennessee State University (89% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is 56.3% larger than aid received by Gordon State College students ($10,101 vs. $6,462).

Gordon vs. ETSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon or ETSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between ETSU and Gordon.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Tennessee State University (1090) is 80 points higher than at Gordon (1010).
• Incoming ETSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 19 at Gordon).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 890/1130; East Tennessee State University 980/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon State College 15/24; East Tennessee State University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon - Test optional; ETSU - Test optional.
• ETSU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Gordon (85.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Gordon vs. 24.7% at ETSU.

Gordon vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon and ETSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from East Tennessee State University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Gordon graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,000 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Gordon State College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than ETSU graduates ($17,500 vs. $20,500).
• Among borrowers, Gordon graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ETSU graduates ($180 vs. $211).
• More ETSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gordon students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.