ESU vs. WSU

Comparable Facts

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

Wichita State University is larger than ESU based on total student enrollment (16,689 students vs. 4,557 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ESU vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESU or WSU? 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 Wichita State University than ESU ($14,228 vs. $16,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emporia State University are 11.8% lower than at Wichita State University ($10,950 vs. $12,420).
• Wichita State University is 36.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ESU (about $2,578 more per year; $9,684.00 vs. $7,106.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.9% higher at WSU than at Emporia State University (about $4,450 more per year; $19,869.00 vs. $15,419.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emporia State University than at Wichita State University (92% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wichita State University students is 36.5% larger than aid received by Emporia State University students ($8,125 vs. $5,951).

ESU vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWichita State University 905/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWichita State University 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESU - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WSU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at ESU (3.41).
• ESU has a higher acceptance rate (97.7%) than WSU (93.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.9% at ESU vs. 20.1% at WSU.

ESU vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESU and WSU? 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).

• The graduation rate at ESU is the same as at Wichita State University (43% vs. 43%).
• Graduates from Wichita State University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than ESU graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Emporia State University graduates have a $1,081 lower median loan debt than WSU graduates ($19,419 vs. $20,500).
• Among borrowers, ESU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSU graduates ($200 vs. $211).
• More ESU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 55%)

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.