East Tennessee State University (ETSU)

East Tennessee State University provides a quality education at an affordable cost, which draws many students from the surrounding area. As one student quips, "We offer good education cheap." ETSU students say they appreciate the curriculum that focuses on "preparing you to graduate and be professional prepared for the workforce." Students also praise the school's academic offerings: "Some of the classes offered are not offered at other schools," like a course on bluegrass out of the Appalachian Studies department, which celebrates and "pays homage" to the cultural "heritage of the mountains." The Honors College is "one huge gem" of the university. One student explains, "The University Honors Scholars program is what made the final decision for me [to attend ETU]." Across the university, students agree that "most of my professors are very well-rounded and know what they teach." An honors student agrees: "I have adored being in the Honors College and only have good things to say about it and my other classes at ETSU."

Many ETSU students hail from "the East Appalachian area and have a lot of pride for the area they grew up in." Students here "are goal-oriented people who have big plans and dreams for their futures" and report "low [levels of] unhappiness with college." While the majority of students hail from the surrounding area, students are quick to point out that the international student population represents many different cultures and nationalities. Students feel like the student body is friendly and just the right size: "We're large enough to attract all types of students from all over the world, but small enough for there to be a sense of camaraderie and to hear the word y'all thrown around here and there." There is a mix of on-campus and commuting students, but everyone is "friendly, encouraging, respectful of one another, and a community." A current student sums up the vibe on campus: "ETSU has an interesting mix of people. It is a fairly progressive campus, especially for the region it is located in," and the "majority of the student body is fairly open and affirming to peers from a variety of backgrounds" including the school's "growing queer (LGBTQ+) population."

Student life at ETSU is "laid back": "The campus itself is beautiful," so when the weather is nice it is "common to see students hula hooping, playing guitar, or reading in their ENO [hammock]." Students take advantage of the "gorgeous library" or study "under the ginkgo tree." "Every Thursday beginning in the spring our local Farmer's Market comes to campus to give the students an opportunity to support local farms and vendors." Students can take in the beautiful landscape off-campus in the "Tree Streets [area] and on The Tweetsie Trail," "camp in the nearby mountains, or kayak on the Nolichucky." For nightlife, "the downtown area in Johnson City is growing and becoming a fun hotspot" with "many great restaurants, shopping, and events." Additionally, Johnson City offers a new park and several new breweries and "there is always good music playing at one of the bars downtown."