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Emporia , KS
Emporia State University, located in Emporia, Kansas, is a public university that has been fostering excellence in education since its establishment in 1863. With a rich history spanning over 150 years, ESU has cemented its reputation as a leading institution in the Midwest. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across four colleges: the School of Business, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the School of Library & Information Management, and the Teachers College.
ESU prides itself on providing students with an exceptional educational experience. With an average class size of 15 students, the university fosters a close-knit community and encourages student engagement. The dedicated faculty, many of whom hold doctorate degrees, are committed to providing quality education and mentorship. As a result, students at Emporia State University receive individualized attention and have ample opportunities for collaboration and research.
Beyond academics, Emporia State University offers numerous extracurricular activities and resources to enrich student life. The Hornets, the university's athletic teams, compete in the NCAA Division II conference, drawing enthusiastic support from the student body. ESU also boasts a diverse array of student organizations, including academic clubs, cultural groups, and service organizations, providing students with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Overall, Emporia State University is a dynamic academic institution that values excellence, innovation, and community. With its commitment to offering a personalized educational experience and comprehensive student support, ESU is an ideal choice for students seeking a well-rounded education that prepares them for success in their chosen fields.
Located in Emporia, KS, Emporia State University is a public university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 97%. The freshman retention rate at Emporia State University is 76.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 56%.
To find out more about what Emporia State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
2,396
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
56%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Discover some important data about admission at Emporia State University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,874 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively noncompetitive.
Test Scores
The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 4.4, 26.1 between 24-29, 47.8 in the range between 18-23, 21.7 between 12-17, and 1 between 6-11.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 22 while the average GPA was 3.7. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Emporia State University; the same goes for your ACT score.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Emporia State University was 76.9% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 56%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right place for you is not simple. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by learning more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Emporia State University in 2025 was 4,557.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 14% for that year. There was a total of 2,396 undergraduate students, including 81 international students. 278 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 936 male and 1,670 female full-time students in 2025. 163 full-time graduate men and 388 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 16, while the number of Afro-American students was 98. 286 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 134 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 11 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 81 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition fees for this university.
Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,684.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $2,132.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Emporia State University amounted to $10,950 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 stood at $6,300 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Room and Board | $ 10,950 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 2,132 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Emporia State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 244 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $12,490 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
1,134 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 1,216. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $4,616,753, and state $1,511,851. The students of Emporia State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $2,060,817, and external in the amount of $999,737.
$2,951
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 86 students overall (including freshmen) at Emporia State University in 2025. 24 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $4,616,753 while the state aid is $15,714. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,818,576. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $843,569 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
16:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Emporia State University was 16:1: that means 16 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 224 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 101 men and 123 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Emporia State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at Emporia State University.
It has a campus size of 207 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 100 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 11 and female students 10. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Emporia Kansas Association of Nursing Students, followed by Arabic Culture Student Organization and TradPlus Student Organization. Other popular organizations at Emporia State University are Student Chapter of the American Library Association of ESU and Phi Eta Sigma.
Students who have a talent for music can join the Emporia State University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Emporia State University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Emporia State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Women's Center are available to the students of Emporia State University.
All in all, campus life at Emporia State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Emporia State University.
Career Counselling
At Emporia State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 39,000 USD.
$39,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Emporia State University is located in Emporia, KS.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Emporia State University is 97%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Emporia State University is 76.9%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.