ESU vs. K-State

Deciding between Emporia State University and Kansas State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Emporia State University
Kansas State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ESU Emporia, KS
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • Setting
  • ESU Remote Town
  • K-State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ESU 4,557
  • K-State 20,295
  • Type
  • ESU Public 4 Year
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ESU
  • K-State #510
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ESU -
  • K-State -
  • Status
  • ESU Non-profit
  • K-State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ESU
  • K-State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ESU $7,106
  • K-State $11,221
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ESU $15,419
  • K-State $28,568
  • Room & Board
  • ESU $10,950
  • K-State $12,830
  • Average Net Price
  • ESU $16,094
  • K-State $20,527
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ESU $5,951
  • K-State $9,270
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ESU 92%
  • K-State 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ESU 1,918
  • K-State 15,509
  • Admitted
  • ESU 1,874
  • K-State 12,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ESU 97.7%
  • K-State 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • ESU 22.9%
  • K-State 27.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ESU
  • K-State 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • ESU
  • K-State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • ESU 3.41
  • K-State 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ESU B+
  • K-State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ESU Unavailable
  • K-State Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • ESU
  • K-State
  • ACT Range
  • ESU
  • K-State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • ESU
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ESU Test optional
  • K-State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ESU
  • K-State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ESU 16:1
  • K-State 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ESU
    • Education (27%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ESU 43%
  • K-State 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ESU $39,000
  • K-State $49,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ESU 59%
  • K-State 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ESU $19,419
  • K-State $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ESU $200
  • K-State $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ESU 33%
  • K-State 46%
  • % Women
  • ESU 67%
  • K-State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ESU Medium
  • K-State Low
  • HBCU
  • ESU No
  • K-State No
  • % White
  • ESU 70%
  • K-State 78%
  • % Asian
  • ESU 1%
  • K-State 1%
  • % Black
  • ESU 5%
  • K-State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ESU 7%
  • K-State 7%
  • % Native American
  • ESU 1%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ESU 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ESU 7%
  • K-State 3%
  • % International
  • ESU 8%
  • K-State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ESU 1%
  • K-State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ESU 82%
  • K-State 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ESU 15%
  • K-State 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ESU Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ESU No
  • K-State No
  • Meal Plan
  • ESU Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ESU No
  • K-State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ESU Yes
  • K-State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Emporia State University in Emporia, KS with Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kansas State University is larger than ESU based on total student enrollment (20,295 students vs. 4,557 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emporia State University is located in Emporia, KS (Remote Town setting); Kansas State University is in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • Emporia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emporia State University 16:1; Kansas State University 19:1.

ESU vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or K-State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Emporia State University than K-State ($16,094 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emporia State University are 14.7% lower than at Kansas State University ($10,950 vs. $12,830).
  • Kansas State University is 57.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $4,115 more per year; $11,221.00 vs. $7,106.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 85.3% higher at K-State than at Emporia State University (about $13,149 more per year; $28,568.00 vs. $15,419.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Emporia State University as at Kansas State University (92% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kansas State University students is 55.8% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($9,270 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. K-State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ESU or K-State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between K-State and ESU .

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKansas State University 1060/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKansas State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; K-State - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at ESU (3.41).
  • ESU has a higher acceptance rate (97.7%) than K-State (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at ESU vs. 27.5% at K-State.

ESU vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and K-State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Kansas State University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Emporia State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Kansas State University earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than ESU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,700 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emporia State University graduates have a $3,081 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($19,419 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, ESU graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($200 vs. $232).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ESU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.