ESU vs. MWSU

Deciding between Emporia State University and Missouri Western 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ESU Emporia, KS
  • MWSU Saint Joseph, MO
  • Setting
  • ESU Remote Town
  • MWSU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • ESU 4,557
  • MWSU 3,716
  • Type
  • ESU Public 4 Year
  • MWSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ESU -
  • MWSU -
  • Status
  • ESU Non-profit
  • MWSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ESU $7,106
  • MWSU $10,306
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ESU $15,419
  • MWSU $20,866
  • Room & Board
  • ESU $10,950
  • MWSU $12,311
  • Average Net Price
  • ESU $16,094
  • MWSU $13,126
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ESU $5,951
  • MWSU $9,245
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ESU 92%
  • MWSU 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ESU 1,918
  • MWSU -
  • Admitted
  • ESU 1,874
  • MWSU -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ESU 97.7%
  • MWSU Open
  • Enrolled
  • ESU 22.9%
  • MWSU Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • Typical ACT score
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • Average High School GPA
  • ESU 3.41
  • MWSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ESU B+
  • MWSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ESU Unavailable
  • MWSU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • ACT Range
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • SAT Range
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ESU Test optional
  • MWSU Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • ESU
  • MWSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ESU 16:1
  • MWSU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ESU
    • Education (27%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • MWSU
    • Business (21%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ESU 43%
  • MWSU 27%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ESU $39,000
  • MWSU $36,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ESU 59%
  • MWSU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ESU $19,419
  • MWSU $21,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ESU $200
  • MWSU $225
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ESU 33%
  • MWSU 38%
  • % Women
  • ESU 67%
  • MWSU 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ESU Medium
  • MWSU Low
  • HBCU
  • ESU No
  • MWSU No
  • % White
  • ESU 70%
  • MWSU 79%
  • % Asian
  • ESU 1%
  • MWSU 1%
  • % Black
  • ESU 5%
  • MWSU 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • ESU 7%
  • MWSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • ESU 1%
  • MWSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ESU 0%
  • MWSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ESU 7%
  • MWSU 3%
  • % International
  • ESU 8%
  • MWSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ESU 1%
  • MWSU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ESU 82%
  • MWSU 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ESU 15%
  • MWSU 18%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emporia State University in Emporia, KS with Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emporia State University is larger than MWSU based on total student enrollment (4,557 students vs. 3,716 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emporia State University is located in Emporia, KS (Remote Town setting); Missouri Western State University is in Saint Joseph, MO (Small City setting).
  • Emporia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Missouri Western State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emporia State University 16:1; Missouri Western State University 15:1.

ESU vs. MWSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or MWSU? 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 Missouri Western State University than ESU ($13,126 vs. $16,094).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emporia State University are 11.1% lower than at Missouri Western State University ($10,950 vs. $12,311).
  • Missouri Western State University is 45% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $3,200 more per year; $10,306.00 vs. $7,106.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.3% higher at MWSU than at Emporia State University (about $5,447 more per year; $20,866.00 vs. $15,419.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Missouri Western State University than at Emporia State University (96% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Missouri Western State University students is 55.4% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($9,245 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. MWSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ESU or MWSU? 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 MWSU and ESU .

  • Missouri Western State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; MWSU - Open admission.
  • Accepted freshman ESU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at MWSU (3.25).

ESU vs. MWSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and MWSU? 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).

  • Emporia State University's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Missouri Western State University's (27%).
  • Graduates from Emporia State University earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than MWSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emporia State University graduates have a $2,399 lower median loan debt than MWSU graduates ($19,419 vs. $21,818).
  • Among borrowers, ESU graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MWSU graduates ($200 vs. $225).
  • More ESU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MWSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 53%)

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.