Johnson City, Tennessee Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Johnson City, Tennessee: median public in-state tuition $10,994 (+92.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $48,646 (-18.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $8,996 (-33.4% vs U.S.) 10,191 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Johnson City serve students across Tennessee with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 10,191 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $10,994. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Johnson City, Tennessee and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Johnson City vs Tennessee & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, Tennessee | $10,994 | $18,759 | $8,996 | 55.3% | 10,191 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $5,217 | $9,049 | $16,750 | 52.0% | 245,221 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Johnson City, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, Tennessee | $48,646 | 91.5% | 75.7% | 9.9% | — | 66.4% | 0.38 |
| Tennessee (state median) | $52,802 | 92.5% | 74.9% | 6.3% | — | 71.2% | 0.39 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
Other cities in Tennessee (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, Tennessee | $10,994 | $18,759 | $8,996 | 55.3% | 10,191 | $48,646 | 91.5% |
| Knoxville | $16,586 | $17,273 | $18,750 | 59.7% | 47,906 | $54,695 | 93.3% |
| Nashville | $18,740 | $23,178 | $18,213 | 45.2% | 39,095 | $52,006 | 92.1% |
| Memphis | $13,920 | $15,356 | $11,911 | 52.9% | 25,565 | $62,938 | 93.4% |
| Chattanooga | $10,762 | $15,026 | $12,000 | 55.8% | 20,266 | $56,442 | 93.1% |
| Murfreesboro | $10,932 | $12,562 | $12,987 | 53.6% | 17,211 | $52,702 | 92.3% |
| Cookeville | $13,734 | $18,006 | $16,500 | 56.0% | 9,352 | $52,901 | 92.9% |
| Clarksville | $11,638 | $10,200 | $17,676 | 41.9% | 7,722 | $48,900 | 90.1% |
| Gallatin | $13,471 | $13,799 | $12,524 | 54.9% | 5,565 | $44,636 | 88.9% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.3%, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.5%, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Most selective college in Johnson City, Tennessee (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 86.2%, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,922, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $106,593, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $43,384, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,258, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,646, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $159,521, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Most affordable college in Johnson City, Tennessee (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $14,208, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
Top college in Johnson City, Tennessee by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 75.7%, East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
In-state tuition: Johnson City, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Johnson City, Tennessee median in-state tuition is $10,994, +92.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Johnson City, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Johnson City, Tennessee is $8,996 (-33.4% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $15,558.
Median earnings (10 years out): Johnson City, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Johnson City, Tennessee center around $48,646 (-18.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Johnson City, Tennessee vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.5% at the median Johnson City, Tennessee campus (-1.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Johnson City, Tennessee median public in-state tuition is $10,994, about +92.9% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +113.2%.
Median graduate debt is $8,996 (-33.4% below the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Johnson City, Tennessee are $48,646, about -18.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 91.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (-1.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 75.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 9.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 66.4% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include East Tennessee State University (91.5%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Johnson City, Tennessee is 55.3% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Johnson City?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Johnson City, Tennessee with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Johnson City?
Median in-state tuition in Johnson City is $10,994 and median net price is $18,759. For Tennessee overall, medians are $5,217 and $9,049; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Johnson City?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Johnson City is $48,646 vs $52,802 for Tennessee and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Johnson City colleges?
Median completer debt in Johnson City is $8,996 vs $16,750 for Tennessee and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Johnson City?
Top campuses on this page include East Tennessee State University (graduation) and East Tennessee State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Johnson City?
Among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Johnson City, Tennessee, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Tennessee college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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