Emporia State University

Emporia State University earns an overall ROI score of 44/100, placing it in the poor value band on CampusROI's framework. Sticker tuition is $7,106 in-state and $15,419 out-of-state, with average net price after grants and scholarships at $16,261. Median earnings six years after entry land at $33,000, climbing to roughly $47,601 by year ten, producing a payback period of about 16.3 years. Median federal debt of $19,500 works out to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, which is tight. Completion sits at 56.1%, a middling result that drags on the score. Note that net price ($16,261) actually exceeds in-state tuition ($7,106), which suggests fees, room and board, and limited grant aid are pushing the all-in cost above the headline tuition number. The component scores break down as earnings premium 40/100, completion 52/100, payback 34/100, debt-to-earnings 53/100, repayment 55/100. The lowest sub-score is payback period at 34/100, which is the main weight pulling the overall number down; the strongest sub-score is loan repayment rate at 55/100. Data points here come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (2024-2025 vintage), and Scorecard earnings carry a 6-10 year reporting lag, so the figures describe recent graduating cohorts rather than this year's incoming class.

This is a Midwest institution with a mid-size enrollment of 2,239 and a Pell Grant rate of 34.5%, near the national average. Strong fit profile is a focused, locally-rooted student who has a clear major in mind and needs the in-state pricing and small-campus scale to make the math work. Completion is middling; students need to budget time and stay on a clear degree plan. Median earnings ten years out of $47,601 should be the honest yardstick for whether the price the family will actually pay (see the income-bracket breakdown below) leads to a workable post-graduation budget.