College is possible: Six ways ETSU helps you afford your degree
As we observe National Higher Education Day at East Tennessee State University, we think of all the great things about college – earning a degree that opens doors to rewarding careers, learning from and being mentored by dynamic faculty, vibrant campus life, building lifelong friendships, and so much more.
We know that for some, though, a college degree may seem out of reach for a variety of reasons. So here we share a few tips to help you break down one of the greatest barriers to a college education – finances.
Scholarships
Scholarships are educational funds that can be awarded to students based on myriad factors from merit to financial need. Scholarships are available for first-year, current, transfer, graduate and international students. Students can contact their college or department about scholarships in their majors. The ETSU General University Scholarship Application, which opens annually on Oct. 1, considers students for endowed scholarships, which are funded by university supporters. Students who have submitted a FAFSA and are Tennessee residents will also be considered for the HOPE Scholarship and other state-funded awards.
Loans and Grants
Loans allow students to borrow funds to assist with tuition and fees, housing, books and other educational expenses. Federal loans, offered through programs supported by the federal government, usually have the lowest interest rates, and repayment generally does not begin until after the student leaves school. ETSU also has a variety of university-sponsored loans that are available in special circumstances, including emergencies/unexpected educational expenses, paying for advance fees related to studying abroad, and more.
Grants also assist students with educational expenses, but unlike loans, they usually do not have to be repaid. Most of these require evidence of the student’s financial need.
Student Employment
Qualifying students may work in a variety of positions on campus through the Federal Work Study Program or Regular Student Work Program. Students receiving the Academic Performance Scholarship, which is ETSU’s largest merit-based scholarship awarded to qualifying first-year students, are placed in service positions throughout campus. Graduate students can apply for a graduate assistantship, which provides tuition assistance and a stipend to those selected to work within a department on campus. Also, many students work off campus in restaurants, retail establishments and many other businesses throughout the region during their college years.
Veterans’ Assistance
ETSU is a Military Friendly® School, and benefits are available for military veterans and their dependents. And, to expand access and honor the service of those in uniform, ETSU has cut its tuition rate by nearly half starting this fall for active-duty military undergraduate students using Department of Defense Tuition Assistance, lowering the per-credit-hour rate to no more than $250.
Payment Plans
Students in good financial standing at ETSU may enroll in a payment plan that allows them to make a down payment before the start of a semester and pay the balance of that semester’s fees in installments throughout that semester.
One-on-One Counseling
ETSU’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships has counselors available for one-on-one financial aid counseling. ETSU students are assigned a counselor based on the first letter of their last name. Students may meet with their counselors in person or via Zoom by making an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome at the physical office in room 105 of Burgin Dossett Hall.
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Prospective and current students are invited to visit the ETSU Financial Aid & Scholarships web page to learn more, and to complete the FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – as the first step toward obtaining financial assistance for college. Students attending ETSU must use the school code 003487.
“The FAFSA is the gateway to not only all federal financial aid, but also to all of the funding opportunities mentioned here,” said Catherine Morgan, director of the ETSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. “Students who haven’t yet completed the FAFSA for 2025-26 are encouraged to do so right away. Some funding sources operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so students should take care of this today and not wait until just before the start of the fall semester.”
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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