About
East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is a public research university in Johnson City, Tennessee. As of 2026, it is the fourth-largest university in the state by student enrollment. In addition to its main campus, ETSU has facilities in Kingsport, Elizabethton, Chattanooga, and Sevierville.
ETSU, home of the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, is the academic partner for Ballad Health, the largest healthcare provider in the Tri-Cities. ETSU grants terminal degrees in many health professions, including medicine, biomedical sciences, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, public health, and pharmacy. ETSU, which uses the slogan "Flagship of Appalachia," has several programs relating to Appalachian cultural heritage, including the Archives of Appalachia and the nation's only Appalachian Studies Department and oldest Bluegrass, Roots, and Old-Time Music degree program. The university is organized into ten colleges and offers about 180 academic programs, including 59 graduate degree programs. The East Tennessee State Buccaneers compete in the NCAA Division I Southern Conference.
ETSU is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". In 2025, ETSU reached the single-year research requirements for status as an R1 for the first time, though Carnegie Classifications use a three-year average.