Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Emporia, Kansas
97.7% Acceptance Rate
Emporia State University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
97.7%Acceptance Rate
3.41Avg GPA
1090Avg SAT
21Avg ACT
$20,527Annual Cost
$47,601Grad Salary
34%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
97.7%
Avg GPA
3.41
Avg SAT
1090
Avg ACT
21
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1050–1120
ACT Middle 50%
18–24
Avg Net Price
$15,702
Need-Based Aid
34% receive Pell
Emporia State University is a public regional university in Kansas that emphasizes professional preparation, community engagement, and student success. Admissions are based on a review of academic achievement and high school curriculum rigor. The university looks for students who are ready to engage in a supportive, collaborative academic environment and contribute to its vibrant, diverse campus community.
Applicants should highlight their consistency in academic performance and their interest in fields related to professional development, technology, or community service. Demonstrating a proactive approach to learning through school-based organizations, research, or community initiatives will strengthen an application. The university values students who are not only academically prepared but also eager to participate in its large, resource-rich, and supportive academic community, where faculty-student mentorship is a defining characteristic for student growth.
Emporia State University Acceptance Rate
Emporia State University (ESU E-State) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 97.7% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 97.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.96
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Emporia State University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Emporia State University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of August 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
ESU E-State reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority
August 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
ESU E-State GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at ESU E-State is 3.41. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.11–3.41 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.61–3.81.ESU E-State GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.41 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.21 – 3.40
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.01 – 3.20
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.00
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Kansas Qualified Admissions: Kansas freshmen qualify via ACT 21, OR top-1/3 rank + 2.0 pre-college-curriculum GPA, OR a 22 ACT-math subscore, OR a completed 4th year of math; $30 application fee with need-based waivers; effectively test-optional.
- Third-oldest public university in Kansas (founded 1863 as Kansas State Normal School); The Teachers College is a nationally recognized "Exemplary Model" teacher-education program.
- Campus houses the National Teachers Hall of Fame and the National Memorial to Fallen Educators - a teacher-identity ecosystem that funds distinctive future-educator scholarships (e.g., SMaRT Kansas 21).
- SLIM (est. 1902) is the only ALA-accredited library-science program in Kansas and offers ESU's only PhD; post-2023 the university reorganized into seven schools, one college, and one institute, protecting nursing, biology, business, library science, and teacher education as core.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at ESU E-State
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Emporia State University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Emporia State University (ESU E-State) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if ESU E-State is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into ESU E-State Without SAT or ACT?
ESU E-State considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Emporia State University Average SAT Score: 1090
The average SAT score of admitted students at Emporia State University is 1090 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1090 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1120 SAT or 24 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Emporia State University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1050, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at ESU E-State. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1090 | 1050 | 1120 |
Below 1050, you're behind most admitted students; at 1120 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1100
Can I get into Emporia State University (ESU E-State) with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of ESU E-State's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Emporia State University (ESU E-State) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at ESU E-State is 21.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 21 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 20 | 17 | 23 |
| ACT English | 20 | 16 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 18 | 24 |
Can I get into Emporia State University with a 24 ACT?
A 24 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of ESU E-State's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at ESU E-State.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for ESU E-State
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
ESU E-State provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Clear the Kansas Qualified-Admissions Bar the Easy Way
As a Kansas Board of Regents school, ESU admits Kansas freshmen through the state Qualified Admissions formula, not a holistic read - and multiple parallel paths clear it: a 21+ ACT, OR top-one-third class rank with the pre-college curriculum at a 2.0+ GPA, OR a 22 ACT-math subscore, OR a completed fourth year of math. Any single path qualifies you, so identify the lane you already satisfy and stop treating a middling ACT as a wall. ESU is effectively test-optional, so if your rank and curriculum clear the bar you may not need to submit scores at all.
Tap the Teacher-Pipeline Scholarships That Reward Commitment Over Stats
ESU is Kansas's original teacher-training institution - founded in 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School and home to The Teachers College and the National Teachers Hall of Fame. That identity funds an unusually deep set of future-educator awards, including full-ride scholarships announced by surprise at Kansas high schools and initiatives like SMaRT Kansas 21 for science and math teacher recruits. If you're aiming at education, signal it early and concretely: classroom volunteering, tutoring, para-educator work, or a stated plan to teach a Kansas shortage area is exactly what these committees fund - and the fully online elementary-education degree widens access.
Get on the SLIM Radar for the Only ALA-Accredited Program in Kansas
ESU's School of Library and Information Management, founded in 1902, is the oldest library school in the western U.S., the only American Library Association?accredited program in Kansas, and home to the university's sole doctorate. It's a national, largely online program, so Kansas students and working professionals can build toward the MLS in-state. If information science, archives, or data/competitive-intelligence work interests you, connect with SLIM advising early to line up prerequisites and certificate stacking - it's one of ESU's protected, well-resourced "elevate" programs and a far surer bet than an at-risk low-enrollment major.
Aim at the Programs ESU Chose to Protect, Not the Ones on the Bubble
After ESU's 2022?23 workforce restructuring, leadership publicly named the programs it is reinvesting in: nursing, biology, business, library and information management, and teacher education. Those carry faculty stability, funding, and growth commitments. Meanwhile several low-enrollment humanities and language programs have been discontinued or reviewed (the Spanish Education degree was cut after enrollment collapsed). Before committing, verify your intended major's current status on ESU's own site - a core program means better advising and cohort size, while a bubble program risks a teach-out mid-degree.
Expert Insight:
Do not rely on older college guides or third-party databases when choosing an ESU major. The university underwent a contested 2022?23 restructuring that eliminated tenured positions and discontinued or suspended several low-enrollment programs (for example, the Spanish Education degree), and some sites still list majors that are being taught out. A program that looks active in a ranking database may be closed to new students - confirm current enrollment status on ESU's own program pages before you apply.
ESU E-State Profile
Full Name
Emporia State University (ESU E-State)
City
Emporia
State
Kansas
ZIP Code
66801-5415
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a ESU E-State Degree Worth It?
At $20,527/year against a $47,601 median graduate salary, ESU E-State is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $56,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.83%.
How much does a degree from ESU E-State Cost?
The sticker price is $20,527/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $15,702.
34% of students receive a Pell Grant and 60.6% take federal loans at ESU E-State — file your FAFSA early and list ESU E-State as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a ESU E-State Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $47,601 — about 17% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Emporia State University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Emporia State University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 1088 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Emporia State University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
Degree Programs at ESU E-State
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About ESU E-State Admissions
Median earnings for Emporia State University graduates sit around $47,601 a year.
At about $20,527 a year, Emporia State University is on the more affordable end.
About 34.0% receive a Pell Grant at Emporia State University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 97.7%, Emporia State University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Emporia State University average a 3.41 GPA.
Emporia State University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.11 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.01, Emporia State University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Emporia State University — aim above 1090, ideally within the 1050–1120 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Emporia State University is August 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 30. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.