East Tennessee State University is a state-supported, coeducational institution and one of the principal campuses governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Founded in 1911, ETSU offers two-year, four-year, and graduate programs of study through the colleges of Applied Science and Technology, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Medicine, Nursing, and Public and Allied Health and the schools of Continuing Studies and Graduate Studies. With an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students, the university offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate programs. The main 366-acre campus is located in Johnson City, one of the Tri-Cities of Northeast Tennessee. Additional off-campus locations include ETSU/UT at Kingsport, ETSU at Bristol, the Greeneville Site and the Nave Center in Elizabethton.
Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol, Tenn./Va., are part of the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia region, the nation's 82nd largest Metropolitan Statistical Area, with a population exceeding 450,000. Located in the Southern Appalachians, the region offers scenic beauty, a moderate climate, and abundant recreational opportunities, including boating, skiing, white-water rafting, fishing, jogging, camping, and hiking.
Northeast Tennessee is also home to many historical sites and national events, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. The region boasts richness and diversity in its arts and culture, offering quality theater, regional museums and cultural centers, and musical performances ranging from symphony concerts to bluegrass festivals - - all within a short drive from the main campus. Interstate highways I-181 and I-81 provide access to the area by automobile. The Tri-Cities Regional Airport provides access by commercial airlines.
The university seeks to serve as a center for intellectual and cultural growth as it nurtures an educational environment that respects individuality and stimulates creativity. The wealth of academic programs, numerous support facilities and services, and active campus life attract people of diverse backgrounds and interests. While the majority of those attending ETSU are primarily from the Southeast, the total student population includes people from 36 states and more than 40 foreign countries. Committed to the needs of all its students, ETSU provides all citizens in the region opportunities to continue lifelong learning. All programs and degrees are offered during the regular day schedule, and extensive evening programs are also provided. Some 5,000-10,000 persons are served annually through continuing education and extended service programs.