ESU vs. Plymouth

Deciding between Emporia State University and Plymouth 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
Plymouth State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ESU Emporia, KS
  • Plymouth Plymouth, NH
  • Setting
  • ESU Remote Town
  • Plymouth Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ESU 4,557
  • Plymouth 3,707
  • Type
  • ESU Public 4 Year
  • Plymouth Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ESU -
  • Plymouth -
  • Status
  • ESU Non-profit
  • Plymouth Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ESU $7,106
  • Plymouth $14,626
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ESU $15,419
  • Plymouth $25,566
  • Room & Board
  • ESU $10,950
  • Plymouth $13,158
  • Average Net Price
  • ESU $16,094
  • Plymouth $20,183
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ESU $5,951
  • Plymouth $11,039
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ESU 92%
  • Plymouth 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ESU 1,918
  • Plymouth 6,878
  • Admitted
  • ESU 1,874
  • Plymouth 6,021
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ESU 97.7%
  • Plymouth 87.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ESU 22.9%
  • Plymouth 13.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • Typical ACT score
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • Average High School GPA
  • ESU 3.41
  • Plymouth 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ESU B+
  • Plymouth B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ESU Unavailable
  • Plymouth Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • ACT Range
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • SAT Range
  • ESU
  • Plymouth
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ESU Test optional
  • Plymouth Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ESU
  • Plymouth Apr 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ESU 16:1
  • Plymouth 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ESU
    • Education (27%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Plymouth
    • Business (30%)
    • Education (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ESU 43%
  • Plymouth 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ESU $39,000
  • Plymouth $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ESU 59%
  • Plymouth 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ESU $19,419
  • Plymouth $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ESU $200
  • Plymouth $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ESU 33%
  • Plymouth 48%
  • % Women
  • ESU 67%
  • Plymouth 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ESU Medium
  • Plymouth Very Low
  • HBCU
  • ESU No
  • Plymouth No
  • % White
  • ESU 70%
  • Plymouth 81%
  • % Asian
  • ESU 1%
  • Plymouth 2%
  • % Black
  • ESU 5%
  • Plymouth 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • ESU 7%
  • Plymouth 2%
  • % Native American
  • ESU 1%
  • Plymouth 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ESU 0%
  • Plymouth 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ESU 7%
  • Plymouth 2%
  • % International
  • ESU 8%
  • Plymouth 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ESU 1%
  • Plymouth 10%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ESU 82%
  • Plymouth 50%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ESU 15%
  • Plymouth 49%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Emporia State University is larger than Plymouth based on total student enrollment (4,557 students vs. 3,707 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emporia State University is located in Emporia, KS (Remote Town setting); Plymouth State University is in Plymouth, NH (Remote Town setting).
  • Emporia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Plymouth State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emporia State University 16:1; Plymouth State University 15:1.

ESU vs. Plymouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or Plymouth? 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 Plymouth ($16,094 vs. $20,183).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emporia State University are 16.8% lower than at Plymouth State University ($10,950 vs. $13,158).
  • Plymouth State University is 105.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $7,520 more per year; $14,626.00 vs. $7,106.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.8% higher at Plymouth than at Emporia State University (about $10,147 more per year; $25,566.00 vs. $15,419.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Plymouth State University than at Emporia State University (100% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Plymouth State University students is 85.5% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($11,039 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. Plymouth Admissions comparison

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

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; Plymouth - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Plymouth Apr 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ESU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Plymouth (3.08).
  • ESU has a higher acceptance rate (97.7%) than Plymouth (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at ESU vs. 13.7% at Plymouth.

ESU vs. Plymouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and Plymouth? 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).

  • Plymouth State University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Emporia State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Plymouth State University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ESU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emporia State University graduates have a $7,581 lower median loan debt than Plymouth graduates ($19,419 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, ESU graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Plymouth graduates ($200 vs. $279).
  • More Plymouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ESU students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.