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K-State University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Arkansas Pitt State Iowa WSU University of Missouri-Kansas City UALR Johnson County Community College Fort Hays State University OU| Emporia State University | University of Kansas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
ESU | KU | ||
| Location | Emporia, KS | Lawrence, KS | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,324 | 26,708 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #252 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | emporia.edu | ku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
ESU | KU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,278 | $10,092 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $13,195 | $26,960 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,308 | $10,136 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,854 | $18,950 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,345 | $11,140 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 87% |
Admission |
ESU | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,846 | 16,204 | ||
| Admitted | 1,766 | 14,234 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.7% | 87.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.4% | 31.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.41 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | |||
| SAT Range | 1090/1340 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
ESU | KU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
ESU | KU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 43% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,000 | $54,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,419 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $200 | $211 |
Diversity |
ESU | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 70% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 5% | ||
| % International | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
ESU | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 58% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 11% | 39% | ||
Campus |
ESU | KU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Kansas is larger than than ESU based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 5,324 students)
ESU vs. KU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, ESU or KU?
- University of Kansas is 91.2% more expensive to attend than ESU for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $5,278.00)
- Out of state tuition is 104.3% higher at KU than Emporia State University ($26,960.00 vs. $13,195.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Emporia State University than KU ($14,854 vs. $18,950)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emporia State University are 8.9% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($9,308 vs. $10,136)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Emporia State University than University of Kansas (89% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 108.4% larger than aid received Emporia State University ($11,140 vs. $5,345)
ESU vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, ESU or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or ESU .
- The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 115 points higher than at ESU (1030)
- Incoming KU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at ESU (22)
- Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at ESU (3.41)
- ESU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than KU (87.8%)
ESU vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, ESU or KU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between KU and ESU .
- The graduation rate at KU is higher than Emporia State University (61% vs. 43%)
- Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $15,600 more per year than ESU graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $39,000)
- Emporia State University students graduate with a $1,081 lower median federal student loan debt than KU graduates. ($19,419 vs. $20,500)
- ESU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than KU graduates. ($200 vs. $211)
- More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ESU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/