ESU vs. Central

Deciding between Emporia State University and University of Central Missouri? 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
University of Central Missouri

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ESU Emporia, KS
  • Central Warrensburg, MO
  • Setting
  • ESU Remote Town
  • Central Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ESU 4,557
  • Central 12,857
  • Type
  • ESU Public 4 Year
  • Central Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ESU
  • Central #723
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ESU -
  • Central -
  • Status
  • ESU Non-profit
  • Central Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ESU
  • Central
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ESU $7,106
  • Central $10,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ESU $15,419
  • Central $18,600
  • Room & Board
  • ESU $10,950
  • Central $10,740
  • Average Net Price
  • ESU $16,094
  • Central $14,943
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ESU $5,951
  • Central $7,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ESU 92%
  • Central 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ESU 1,918
  • Central 5,647
  • Admitted
  • ESU 1,874
  • Central 3,603
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ESU 97.7%
  • Central 63.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ESU 22.9%
  • Central 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ESU
  • Central
  • Typical ACT score
  • ESU
  • Central 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ESU 3.41
  • Central 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ESU B+
  • Central A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ESU Unavailable
  • Central Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ESU
  • Central Low
  • ACT Range
  • ESU
  • Central 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • ESU
  • Central
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ESU Test optional
  • Central Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ESU
  • Central
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ESU 16:1
  • Central 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ESU
    • Education (27%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Central
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ESU 43%
  • Central 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ESU $39,000
  • Central $41,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ESU 59%
  • Central 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ESU $19,419
  • Central $22,441
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ESU $200
  • Central $232
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ESU 33%
  • Central 46%
  • % Women
  • ESU 67%
  • Central 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ESU Medium
  • Central Low
  • HBCU
  • ESU No
  • Central No
  • % White
  • ESU 70%
  • Central 77%
  • % Asian
  • ESU 1%
  • Central 1%
  • % Black
  • ESU 5%
  • Central 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ESU 7%
  • Central 4%
  • % Native American
  • ESU 1%
  • Central 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ESU 0%
  • Central 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ESU 7%
  • Central 4%
  • % International
  • ESU 8%
  • Central 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ESU 1%
  • Central 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ESU 82%
  • Central 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ESU 15%
  • Central 15%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Central Missouri is larger than ESU based on total student enrollment (12,857 students vs. 4,557 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emporia State University is located in Emporia, KS (Remote Town setting); University of Central Missouri is in Warrensburg, MO (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Emporia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Missouri is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emporia State University 16:1; University of Central Missouri 18:1.

ESU vs. Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or Central? 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 University of Central Missouri than ESU ($14,943 vs. $16,094).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 1.9% lower than at Emporia State University ($10,740 vs. $10,950).
  • University of Central Missouri is 41.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $2,944 more per year; $10,050.00 vs. $7,106.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.6% higher at Central than at Emporia State University (about $3,181 more per year; $18,600.00 vs. $15,419.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Missouri than at Emporia State University (96% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Central Missouri students is 31.3% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($7,811 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. Central Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Central Missouri 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; Central - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at ESU (3.41).
  • ESU has a higher acceptance rate (97.7%) than Central (63.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at ESU vs. 28.6% at Central.

ESU vs. Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and Central? 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).

  • University of Central Missouri's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Emporia State University's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than ESU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emporia State University graduates have a $3,022 lower median loan debt than Central graduates ($19,419 vs. $22,441).
  • Among borrowers, ESU graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central graduates ($200 vs. $232).
  • More ESU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.