Henderson State University vs. ESU

Should I go to Henderson State University or Emporia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or ESU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Henderson State University vs. Emporia State University comparison
Henderson State University Emporia State University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Emporia State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Henderson State University ESU
Location Arkadelphia, AR Emporia, KS
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,519 5,324
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu emporia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University ESU
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $5,278
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $13,195
Room & Board $9,558 $9,308
Avg Net Price $17,656 $14,854
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $5,345
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 89%

Admission

Henderson State University ESU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 1,846
Admitted 1,657 1,766
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 95.7%
Enrolled % 24.9% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21
SAT Range 903/1073
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University ESU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Education (27%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University ESU
Graduation Rate 31% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $39,000
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $19,419
Median Loan Payment $201 $200

Diversity

Henderson State University ESU
% Men 40% 33%
% Women 60% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 70%
% Black 24% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 1% 8%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Henderson State University ESU
% In-State 81% 89%
% Out-of-State 19% 11%

Campus

Henderson State University ESU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Emporia State University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (5,324 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. ESU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or ESU ?

  • Henderson State University is 11.4% more expensive to attend than ESU for in-state tuition ($5,880.00 vs. $5,278.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 63.1% higher at ESU than Henderson State University ($13,195.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Emporia State University than Henderson State University ($14,854 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emporia State University are 2.7% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($9,308 vs. $9,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Henderson State University than Emporia State University (90% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 79.2% larger than aid received Emporia State University ($9,580 vs. $5,345)

Henderson State University vs. ESU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henderson State University or ESU ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ESU or Henderson State University .

  • The average SAT score at Emporia State University (1030) is 42 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming ESU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman ESU students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • ESU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

Henderson State University vs. ESU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or ESU ? 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 ESU and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at ESU is higher than Henderson State University (43% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Emporia State University earn on average $600 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $38,400)
  • Emporia State University students graduate with a $81 lower median federal student loan debt than Henderson State University graduates. ($19,419 vs. $19,500)
  • ESU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Henderson State University graduates. ($200 vs. $201)
  • More ESU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/