ESU vs. SWOSU

Deciding between Emporia State University and Southwestern Oklahoma 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
Southwestern Oklahoma State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ESU Emporia, KS
  • SWOSU Weatherford, OK
  • Setting
  • ESU Remote Town
  • SWOSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ESU 4,557
  • SWOSU 5,186
  • Type
  • ESU Public 4 Year
  • SWOSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ESU
  • SWOSU #1040
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ESU -
  • SWOSU -
  • Status
  • ESU Non-profit
  • SWOSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ESU
  • SWOSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ESU $7,106
  • SWOSU $8,469
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ESU $15,419
  • SWOSU $8,499
  • Room & Board
  • ESU $10,950
  • SWOSU $7,634
  • Average Net Price
  • ESU $16,094
  • SWOSU $14,410
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ESU $5,951
  • SWOSU $8,906
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ESU 92%
  • SWOSU 88%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ESU 1,918
  • SWOSU -
  • Admitted
  • ESU 1,874
  • SWOSU -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ESU 97.7%
  • SWOSU
  • Enrolled
  • ESU 22.9%
  • SWOSU
  • Typical SAT score
  • ESU
  • SWOSU
  • Typical ACT score
  • ESU
  • SWOSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • ESU 3.41
  • SWOSU 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ESU B+
  • SWOSU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ESU Unavailable
  • SWOSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ESU
  • SWOSU
  • ACT Range
  • ESU
  • SWOSU 18/23
  • SAT Range
  • ESU
  • SWOSU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ESU Test optional
  • SWOSU Not reported
  • Application Deadline
  • ESU
  • SWOSU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ESU 16:1
  • SWOSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ESU
    • Education (27%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • SWOSU
    • Health Professions (28%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ESU 43%
  • SWOSU 33%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ESU $39,000
  • SWOSU $48,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ESU 59%
  • SWOSU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ESU $19,419
  • SWOSU $15,687
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ESU $200
  • SWOSU $162
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ESU 33%
  • SWOSU 35%
  • % Women
  • ESU 67%
  • SWOSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ESU Medium
  • SWOSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • ESU No
  • SWOSU No
  • % White
  • ESU 70%
  • SWOSU 67%
  • % Asian
  • ESU 1%
  • SWOSU 2%
  • % Black
  • ESU 5%
  • SWOSU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ESU 7%
  • SWOSU 8%
  • % Native American
  • ESU 1%
  • SWOSU 4%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ESU 0%
  • SWOSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ESU 7%
  • SWOSU 7%
  • % International
  • ESU 8%
  • SWOSU 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ESU 1%
  • SWOSU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ESU 82%
  • SWOSU 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ESU 15%
  • SWOSU 7%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emporia State University in Emporia, KS with Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University is larger than ESU based on total student enrollment (5,186 students vs. 4,557 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ESU vs. SWOSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or SWOSU? 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 Southwestern Oklahoma State University than ESU ($14,410 vs. $16,094).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University are 30.3% lower than at Emporia State University ($7,634 vs. $10,950).
  • Southwestern Oklahoma State University is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $1,363 more per year; $8,469.00 vs. $7,106.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.4% higher at ESU than at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (about $6,920 more per year; $15,419.00 vs. $8,499.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emporia State University than at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (92% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Oklahoma State University students is 49.7% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($8,906 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. SWOSU Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSouthwestern Oklahoma State University 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; SWOSU - Not reported.
  • Accepted freshman SWOSU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at ESU (3.41).

ESU vs. SWOSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and SWOSU? 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 Southwestern Oklahoma State University's (33%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern Oklahoma State University earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than ESU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,600 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Southwestern Oklahoma State University graduates have a $3,732 lower median loan debt than ESU graduates ($15,687 vs. $19,419).
  • Among borrowers, SWOSU graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ESU graduates ($162 vs. $200).
  • More ESU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWOSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 54%)

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.