ETSU was originally named East Tennessee State Normal School and was renamed to East Tennessee State Teachers College in 1925. It became East Tennessee State College in 1943 and gained university status in 1963. Except the main campus in Johnson City, there are also several small off-campus centers in Bristol, Greeneville, Kingsport, and Elizabethton in Tennessee.

Academics
With a help of nearly 200 undergraduate, graduate, and medical programs of study at ETSU, students'll find many exciting ways to turn their passions and talents into career opportunities. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and every program eligible for accreditation has earned it.

Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Office provides a broad spectrum of programs to assist students in financing their college education. ETSU is committed to providing access to students through a variety of resources that includes scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study majors.  The Financial Aid Office is sometimes required to adjust or cancel awards because of changes in financial or academic status, change of academic program or other extenuating circumstances.  Every award is contingent on the receipt of funds by the ETSU. Students must regularly attend classes to receive financial aid. Students should always notify the Office if Financial Aid if any awards such as scholarships, assistantships, or other types of assistance are not listed on the financial aid award screen in GoldLink.  Such funds must be counted as a funding resource toward the cost of attendance.

Athletics
Men's sports at ETSU are baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track. Women's sports are basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball. A new on-campus soccer field, the Summers-Taylor field, opened in Fall 2007.

Campus Life
During attending The University, students can benefit greatly from the many activities available to them on campus. In 2002, the Basler Center for Physical Activity was opened and is a 100,000 square foot building. The facility contains many recreational facilities including, an indoor 40-foot climbing wall, raquetball and basketball courts, an indoor swimming pool, a 15,000 square foot weight room, etc. The Basler center also offers a diverse selection of fitness classes from yoga to martial arts taught there in the studio rooms available, all free of charge to the student.