Admit rate has ranged 59%–92% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) is a small, faith-driven institution in Marshall, Texas, where nearly 1,700 students—mostly undergrads—pursue degrees steeped in Christian values. Known for its nursing program and tight-knit community, ETBU offers a moderately selective admissions process, a 19:1 student-faculty ratio, and a campus where 80% of students live on-site. While its graduation rate lags behind national averages, its net price ($24K after aid) makes it a relatively affordable private option.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,352
In-state tuition
$30,680
Out-of-state tuition
$30,680
Location
Marshall, TX
Top Major
Nursing
Acceptance Rate
58%
6-Year Grad Rate
45–47%
On-Campus Housing
80%
Student-Faculty Ratio
19:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$52,788
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$23,250
Graduation rate
47%
First-year retention
71%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
55%
Pell (lower-income) share
60%
First-generation share
32%
Endowment / student
$55,779
Financial health
1.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$63,005
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$44,356
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$35,060
Business/Commerce, General$35,060
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$30,771
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
93°F
Winter low
41°F
Annual rain
53.5"
Annual snow
2.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
18
Scholarly works
153
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.5%
Bottom → top quintile
14%
From bottom quintile
11%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at East Texas Baptist University?
East Texas Baptist University's acceptance rate is approximately 58% (Marshall, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does East Texas Baptist University cost?
At East Texas Baptist University, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,911 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend East Texas Baptist University?
East Texas Baptist University enrolls approximately 1,352 undergraduate students.
Where is East Texas Baptist University located?
East Texas Baptist University is located in Marshall, TX.
Admissions
ETBU is moderately difficult to get into, with a 58% acceptance rate (1,016 admitted from 1,759 applicants in 2024). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 950–1150 on the SAT or 18–24 on the ACT, with an average high school GPA of 3.53. Notably, 99% of freshmen receive financial aid, averaging $15,233 per student. The university hit a record Spring 2026 enrollment of 1,709 students, a 6% increase over the previous year.
Application deadlines: Rolling, with a regular deadline of August 27
Minimum requirements: 2.75 GPA or SAT 970 (Math/Verbal) or ACT 18
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
$30,409
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
ETBU offers 43 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate programs, with nursing (13% of degrees), interdisciplinary studies (11%), and business (9%) as the most popular. Classes average 20 students, supported by a 19:1 student-faculty ratio. The curriculum is explicitly framed through a Christian worldview, with majors ranging from healthcare administration to humanities. The university emphasizes hands-on learning, though its 6-year graduation rate is 45–47%, below national benchmarks.
Top 5 Majors (by graduates): 1. Nursing (36 graduates) 2. Liberal Arts & Humanities (32) 3. Business (27) 4. Elementary Education (17) 5. Health Science (data not specified)
Life at ETBU revolves around its residential campus, where 80% of students live on-site. The university promotes a tight-knit, faith-based community with activities like chapel services, mission trips, and student-led ministries. Instagram posts highlight events like Summer Preview Days, where families explore campus life. The Student Life Office organizes leadership development programs, while the university’s small size fosters personalized mentorship—though social options may feel limited for those seeking a secular or urban college experience.
Housing: 80% on-campus, 20% off-campus
Athletics: Competes in NCAA Division III (American Southwest Conference)
Vibe: Described as a 'safe place to explore interests' with heavy emphasis on spiritual growth
ETBU graduates earn a median salary of $36,427 one year post-graduation, roughly $6K below the expected average for their mix of majors. The 6-year graduation rate is 45–47%, and retention rates hover around 60% for first-year students. While the nursing program has strong regional ties, the overall ROI is tempered by lower-than-average earnings, particularly for liberal arts and education graduates.
Key stats:
Early-career earnings: $35K (CollegeFactual) to $36K (Niche)
5-year post-grad earnings: Data not explicitly stated
ETBU’s sticker price is $47,076, but the average net price drops to $24,169 after aid—with 99% of freshmen receiving grants or scholarships. The financial aid office emphasizes affordability for middle-income families, though the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator estimates out-of-pocket costs at $32,830/year for some brackets. For context:
Average aid award: $15,233 (grants/scholarships)
Projected cost for families earning $110K+: ~$30,366/year
Payment options: Federal loans, PLUS loans, and private scholarships
ETBU carves a niche as a low-cost Christian alternative to larger Texas universities, particularly for students seeking nursing or ministry-focused degrees. Its defining features:
1. Faith integration: Every class connects to Baptist values, appealing to conservative families. 2. Small-scale attention: 20-student classes and 19:1 ratios mean professors know students by name. 3. Nursing pipeline: The program is the university’s largest major, with local hospital partnerships. 4. Affordability: Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. under $25K is rare for private colleges, even with middling outcomes.
Downsides include limited diversity (demographics not cited) and below-average graduation rates, but for the right student, ETBU offers a close community at a bargain price.
East Texas Baptist University logo · sourceCampus Map | East Texas Baptist University · sourceEast Texas Baptist University - Marshall, TX | Appily · sourceEast Texas Baptist University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · source
