ETSU recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best-in-State Employers

Jennifer Hill August 20, 2024

ETSU is among the Tennessee employers listed in this
2024 ranking compiled by Forbes and Statista.

East Tennessee State University is recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best-in-State Employers of 2024. 

ETSU is one of the largest employers in the region, with approximately 2,400 regular employees.

Those selected for America’s Best-in-State Employers were identified by Forbes and Statista Inc., the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, in an independent survey of over 160,000 employees working for companies from all industry sectors employing at least 500 people within the U.S. Around 4.4 million employer evaluations were analyzed. Data from the past three years was considered.

An employer’s final score was determined on a state-by-state basis and built upon two types of employee evaluations: personal evaluations, or employees’ willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family; and public evaluations, or recommendations from friends and family members of employees or members of the public working in the same industry.

“ETSU has so much to offer employees,” said ETSU Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Ross. “The first tenet of ETSU’s core values is that ‘People come first, are treated with dignity and respect, and are encouraged to achieve their full potential.’”

As such, the university encourages a healthy work/life balance, offering generous paid time off, professional development and educational benefits, and a variety of services and facilities that support the health and well-being of employees and their families. In addition, the State of Tennessee offers employees excellent group insurance programs and a comprehensive retirement plan.

Ross also noted that ETSU’s location is a plus for employees. “We are located in a beautiful, vibrant part of the state of Tennessee that has many offerings in terms of recreation, music, culture and lifestyle.”

In 2022, Forbes also ranked ETSU among America’s Best-in-State Employers – and among America’s Best Employers. Last month, Forbes ranked ETSU as one of America’s Best Employers for Women 2024.

Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, relevant business data and various market and consumer studies and surveys. 

See the full listing of America’s Best-in-State Employers 2024 here

Learn more about employment at ETSU on the Office of Human Resources website, etsu.edu/human-resources/


East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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