C
Average
Score: 52/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
40/100 · earnings-weighted

Emporia State University

4-Year Public
📍 Emporia, Kansas 66801
Emporia State University campus, Emporia, KS
Emporia State University campus, Emporia, KS. Photo: Ethan James Scherrer, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (B) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 54%
Outcomes
B
67/100
Affordability
C
50/100
Resources
C
46/100
Experience
B
68/100
Prestige
D
31/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

4,658
Total Enrollment
54%
Graduation Rate
67%
Retention Rate
17.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
98%
Acceptance Rate
$15,441
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Emporia State University ▼

9% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$175,020
Avg Monthly Rent
$890
1-Year Change
+5.1%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Emporia State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$47,601
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$41,389
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$19,500
Median debt at graduation
56.1%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,120
Average SAT
34.5%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 41% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 27th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (KS wage index 0.93). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Emporia State University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$60,066$71,002-20%#938 of 966#943$21,581
Human Resources Management and Services$38,538$68,568+1%#86 of 187#72$15,692
Information Science/Studies$48,438$67,263-21%#119 of 148#118$18,868
Accounting and Related Services$40,967$65,271-14%#617 of 796#579$16,308
Biology—$65,043+14%#176 of 841#120$22,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,528$60,719-11%#769 of 1176#718$14,250
Marketing$40,830$55,527-20%#453 of 516#448$23,250
Psychology$35,389$53,022+5%#350 of 1027#229$18,500
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$38,423$50,717-4%#284 of 476#253$21,844
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$43,954$50,458-2%#183 of 345#179$21,570
Criminal Justice and Corrections$35,970$48,574-12%#527 of 660#518$21,500
Public Health$31,547$48,325-18%#177 of 215#173$20,574
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies—$46,887-8%#44 of 63#41—
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions—$46,445-17%#71 of 85#70—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$43,933$46,195-3%#421 of 680#439$20,042
Sociology$29,313$45,661-13%#379 of 462#352$27,000
English Language and Literature—$45,292-7%#402 of 576#348—
Communication and Media Studies$37,095$45,003-20%#564 of 660#554$24,426
Fine and Studio Arts$19,276$34,355-17%#371 of 423#352$23,113

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Emporia State University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $175,020
  • Avg rent near campus: $890/mo — vs ~$700/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 66801 (4.0% cap, Emporia)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $5,542 $13,855
Room $6,300
Board $4,242
Total Cost (On-Campus) $23,306 $31,619

Financial Aid

95%
Receive Any Aid
37%
Receive Pell Grants
75%
Take Out Loans
$15,441
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$10,658
$30,001 - $48,000$10,763
$48,001 - $75,000$15,438
$75,001 - $110,000$18,019
$110,001+$18,347

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Business Administration and Management, General 300 grads/yr Curriculum and Instruction 178 grads/yr Library and Information Science 162 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 148 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 130 grads/yr Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 74 grads/yr Accounting 64 grads/yr Special Education and Teaching, General 50 grads/yr Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other 44 grads/yr Public Health Education and Promotion 41 grads/yr Psychology, General 40 grads/yr Mental Health Counseling/Counselor 39 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 38 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 36 grads/yr Information Technology 34 grads/yr General Studies 28 grads/yr English Language and Literature, General 25 grads/yr Speech Communication and Rhetoric 23 grads/yr Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching 19 grads/yr Social Studies Teacher Education 19 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Emporia State University's top programs commonly pursue.

Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Training and development managers
$127k/yr 46,400 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs

Student Demographics

4,658
Total Students
68%
Women
87%
Traditional Age (18-24)
9%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 67%
Hispanic 11%
Black 4%
Asian 2%
Two or More 5%
Non-Resident 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 78%
Off-Campus (Renters) 9%
With Family 13%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~405 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 25%
Hybrid (Some Online) 28%
Fully Online 47%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 87%
25-64 (Adult) 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Emporia State University?
Emporia State University has an acceptance rate of 98%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Emporia State University?
Tuition at Emporia State University is $5,542 for in-state students and $13,855 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $15,441.
What is the graduation rate at Emporia State University?
The graduation rate at Emporia State University is 54%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Emporia State University a good school?
Emporia State University has a Repit College Score of 52/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Emporia State University?
Emporia State University has a total enrollment of 4,658 students. Most students (87%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Emporia State University?
Yes! Approximately 9% of students at Emporia State University live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 405 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Emporia State University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Emporia State University

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS · 5,722 students
C+
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS · 12,843 students
B
Washburn University
Topeka, KS · 5,663 students
C
Donnelly College
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C
Hesston College
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C
Barclay College
Haviland, KS · 187 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology