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East Tennessee State University: ETSU Campus Quad
Photo: Smoke321, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

East Tennessee State University

  • LocationJohnson City, TN
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 13,586 students
Official website

East Tennessee State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Diocese of Knoxville lists the ETSU Catholic Center in Johnson City as the Catholic campus ministry for East Tennessee State University, with Father Zach Griffith as chaplain. FOCUS lists ETSU among the campuses it serves.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of East Tennessee State University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 miETSU Catholic Center: 0.6 miEast Tennessee State University (campus)N0.25 mi
CampusCatholic centerOpen a street map ›

No Catholic churches are mapped in OpenStreetMap within 3 miles. The map may be incomplete; check the local diocese’s parish directory.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Knoxvilledioknox.org/campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The ETSU Catholic Center is a ministry to the Catholic students and faculty of the East Tennessee State University community in Johnson City and anyone wishing to learn about the Roman Catholic faith.”
      The Diocese of Knoxville states that the ETSU Catholic Center ministers to Catholic students and faculty at East Tennessee State University.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryFull-time priest chaplain (The Diocese of Knoxville campus page presents Father Zach Griffith as chaplain, with no other assignment listed on that page.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Knoxvilledioknox.org/campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father Zach Griffith, chaplain 734 W. Locust St. Johnson City, TN 37604”
      The diocese lists Father Zach Griffith as chaplain of the ETSU Catholic Center at 734 W. Locust St.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)One (FOCUS lists a team on the ETSU campus.)
    Sources (1)
    1. East Tennessee State University | FOCUSfocus.org/campus/east-tennessee-state-university · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “HOME | CAMPUSES | East Tennessee State University”
      FOCUS lists a campus page for East Tennessee State University with FOCUS missionaries serving there.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)None mapped within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The Diocese of Knoxville lists a named chaplain and a Catholic Center for ETSU students and faculty.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Knoxvilledioknox.org/campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The ETSU Catholic Center is a ministry to the Catholic students and faculty of the East Tennessee State University community in Johnson City and anyone wishing to learn about the Roman Catholic faith.”
      The Diocese of Knoxville states that the ETSU Catholic Center ministers to Catholic students and faculty at East Tennessee State University.
      “Father Zach Griffith, chaplain 734 W. Locust St. Johnson City, TN 37604”
      The diocese lists Father Zach Griffith as chaplain of the ETSU Catholic Center at 734 W. Locust St.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

ETSU Catholic Center

  • Address: 734 W. Locust St., Johnson City, TN 37604
  • Distance from campus: 0.6 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: dioknox.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, dioknox.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

1 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 1 location not published

Clubs and groups 1

  • FOCUS at East Tennessee State University
    FOCUS missionaries serve the ETSU campus, according to FOCUS's campus page.
    focus.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (1)
  1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Knoxvilledioknox.org/campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The ETSU Catholic Center is a ministry to the Catholic students and faculty of the East Tennessee State University community in Johnson City and anyone wishing to learn about the Roman Catholic faith.”
    The Diocese of Knoxville states that the ETSU Catholic Center ministers to Catholic students and faculty at East Tennessee State University.
    “Father Zach Griffith, chaplain 734 W. Locust St. Johnson City, TN 37604”
    The diocese lists Father Zach Griffith as chaplain of the ETSU Catholic Center at 734 W. Locust St.
    “The ETSU Catholic Center is a ministry to the Catholic students and faculty of the East Tennessee State University community in Johnson City and anyone wishing to learn about the Roman Catholic faith.”
    The Diocese of Knoxville states that the ETSU Catholic Center ministers to Catholic students and faculty at East Tennessee State University.
    “Father Zach Griffith, chaplain 734 W. Locust St. Johnson City, TN 37604”
    The diocese lists Father Zach Griffith as chaplain of the ETSU Catholic Center at 734 W. Locust St.

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Academic Excellence

CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
63 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.53%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,144 · ACT 22.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.15 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$15,541

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division I · Southern Conference
SettingCity
ROTCArmy
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member15 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
10,633
Total students13,586
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$15,983
Cost of attendance (per year)$27,042
Median federal debt at graduation$19,442
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
53%
First-year retention76%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$44,859
Admission rate86%
Students receiving Pell grants35%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1144
SAT reading & writing510–620
SAT math470–580
ACT composite19–26
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 52 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Knoxville

The Most Reverend Mark Beckman, Bishop of Knoxville

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 220075
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is East Tennessee State University a Catholic college?
No. East Tennessee State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by ETSU Catholic Center.

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