East Tennessee State University

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This school appears in our ranking Top 30 Affordable Online Master's in Nursing Education Degrees.

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911. Today, they have over 14,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The main campus is in the northeastern part of the state near Virginia and North Carolina. Students living in counties in North Carolina and Virginia that border Tennessee are eligible to receive in-state tuition rates. The mission of the university is to create a world-class environment to improve the quality of life and enhance student success. The university maintains high standards and community-based learning to promote research programs, professional preparation and continuous improvement.

East Tennessee State University offers one of the only Masters in Storytelling degrees available in the country. They also maintain the Appalachian Studies program that focuses on the unique subculture, history and people of the surrounding areas. On-campus colleges and schools include the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, School of Graduate Studies and School of Continuing Studies and Academic Outreach. Notable facilities include the Center for Academic Achievement, the Warren-Greene Golf Center and the History Museum and Visitor Center.

East Tennessee State University Accreditation Details

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Other organizational approvals include the Tennessee Department of Education, the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the National Association for Sports and Physical Education.

East Tennessee State University Application Requirements

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies is open to anyone with a regionally accredited bachelor's degree. Students with bachelor's degrees from non-regionally accredited college may still apply, but their transcripts will be reviewed individually. Applicants must have at least an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 for most programs, but some have higher requirements. Applicants may be required to submit GRE or GMAT scores as well as letters of recommendation. The cutoff dates for admission to the School of Graduate Studies are November 1 for spring, March 15 for summer and June 1 for the fall semester.

Many of the graduate programs have specific admission requirements. For example, the Master of Science in the Sports Management degree requires an undergraduate degree in physical education, sports management or a related field. The cumulative undergraduate GPA must be at least 2.7. Students must submit a resume, three academic references and an essay explaining their goals and motivations for choosing the program.

The Master of Professional Studies also requires a 2.7 GPA, but they require GRE scores of at least 400 verbal and 500 quantitative. Applicants who have over five years of work experience may submit a portfolio of their professional accomplishments instead of GRE scores. This must include a 500- to 600-word essay that discusses how the degree program will help them achieve personal goals and professional plans.

Tuition and Financial Aid

East Tennessee State University charges separate tuition rates for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in online degree programs. Out-of-state students enrolled in 100 percent online courses and degree programs are eligible to receive reduced tuition rates through the eRate system. This delivers about a 50 percent savings off the regular out-of-state tuition rates. The undergraduate eRate for students is $462 for one credit hour, which equates to $4,578 for 10 credit hours. The graduate eRate for students is $721 for one credit hour and $7,168 for 10 credit hours.

Online students who are enrolled in a regular campus course at East Tennessee State University will not only be ineligible for the eRate, but they will be charged regular non-resident fees and charges for all courses. Students who enjoy the eRate tuition rates are not available for university financial support and internal scholarships, but they may be eligible for federal financial aid. Regular students may apply for a Hope Scholarship, which is also known as the Lottery Scholarship. This is available to Tennessee residents only. Some of the most popular ones include the Inspire Award, Aspire Award, Don't Lose Hope, Hope Access Grant and General Assembly Merit Scholarship programs.

The FAFSA must be completed to be considered for university, state and federal financial aid. When it comes to filling out the FAFSA, may students inadvertently make mistakes that may cause a delay or disqualification. Students are encouraged to never leave blank fields and mix up commas and decimal points in numeric fields. The Social Security number, driver's license number, marital status, parent marital status and question about drug-related offense questions must be accurate. Some students confuse their federal income tax paid amount because they use their W-2 form instead of their income tax return. Similarly, the adjusted gross income is not the same as total income.

Online Degrees Available

Master of Science in Sports Management

One unique degree offered by East Tennessee University is the Master of Science in Sports Management. This degree prepares students for careers in athletic, sports and motorsports administration and management. The curriculum focuses on three equally important parts of the sports industry: performance, production, promotion. At the same time, it encompasses all levels from youth to high school to collegiate to amateur to professional. The titles of the required classes are quite long in some cases: Legal Issues in Physical Education and Sports, Administration of Physical Education and Athletics, Sports Communication and Media Relations.

Master of Professional Studies

The Master of Professional Studies is a 33-credit hour degree program designed for working adults who want an interdisciplinary education. This collaborative program is provided through the cooperation of all universities through the TN eCampus system. The goal of this program is to help students professionally develop themselves to be able to respond to the dynamic challenges of work environments and changing expectations. Many of the students work in the IT, business, media, education, government, social services and healthcare fields. This program requires classes in Small Group Leadership, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Structure and Public Relations Management.

East Tennessee State University offers affordable degrees for students across the country through their eRate tuition discount. An overview of available graduate degrees can be found on the East Tennessee State University website.