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Emporia State University
Admission at Emporia State University is close to open (97.7%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $47,601 median earnings below before the application.
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Emporia State University anchors the college town of Emporia, KS, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $71,002 four years out. 34.5% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,239 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 76.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Emporia State University's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Emporia State University received 1,592 applications and admitted 1,556 (97.7%), with 409 enrolling.
Emporia State University is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Emporia State University's submitters' middle half scored 18–24 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Emporia State University compares
| Emporia State University | Kansas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 97.7% | 80.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,106 | $33,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,601 | $52,113 | $53,781 |
At $47,601, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($52,113). Look at Emporia State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $7,106 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $15,419. For non-residents, Emporia State University's $15,419 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 2,239 undergrads, Emporia State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
56.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 44% don't — ask a Emporia State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Emporia State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $71,002 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $68,568 |
| Information Science/Studies | $67,263 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $65,271 |
| Biology, General | $65,043 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,719 |
| Marketing | $55,527 |
| Psychology, General | $53,022 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $50,717 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $50,458 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,574 |
| Public Health | $48,325 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $46,887 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $46,445 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,195 |
| Sociology | $45,661 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,292 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,003 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,355 |
Median earnings for these 19 Emporia State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,601 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 19 additional Emporia State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Emporia State University?
The middle 50% of Emporia State University's submitters earned ACT composites of 18–24; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Emporia State University's acceptance rate?
97.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,556 admitted from 1,592 applicants.
How much does Emporia State University cost?
In-state tuition is $7,106; out-of-state students pay $15,419. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Emporia State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,601 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Kansas
- Fort Hays State University — 90.3% admitted
- Haskell Indian Nations University — 90.4% admitted
- Bethel College-North Newton — 93.5% admitted
- University of Kansas — 93.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.