ESU vs. SC

Comparable Facts

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

Emporia State University is larger than SC based on total student enrollment (4,557 students vs. 694 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emporia State University is located in Emporia, KS (Remote Town setting); Sterling College is in Sterling, KS (Remote Town setting).
• Emporia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emporia State University 16:1; Sterling College 8:1.

ESU vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or SC? 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 SC ($16,094 vs. $23,531).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 12.5% lower than at Emporia State University ($9,586 vs. $10,950).
• Sterling College is 374.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $26,594 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $7,106.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.6% higher at SC than at Emporia State University (about $18,281 more per year; $33,700.00 vs. $15,419.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Emporia State University (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 297.8% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($23,673 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. SC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSterling College 938/1123.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSterling College 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; SC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SC Aug 17, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at ESU (3.41).
• ESU has a higher acceptance rate (97.7%) than SC (48.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at ESU vs. 30.4% at SC.

ESU vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and SC? 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).

• Sterling College's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Emporia State University's (43%).
• Graduates from Emporia State University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than SC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Emporia State University graduates have a $5,244 lower median loan debt than SC graduates ($19,419 vs. $24,663).
• Among borrowers, ESU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SC graduates ($200 vs. $255).
• More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ESU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.