Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas · Public · 97.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Emporia State University earns an overall ROI score of 44/100, placing it in the Below Benchmark 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. Average earnings six years after entry land at $33,000, climbing to a median of 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. 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.
How Emporia State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score44/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period16.3 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Emporia State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,106/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,419/yr |
| Average net price | $16,261/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,044 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,601 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,239 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,106/year ($15,419/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,261/year, or roughly $65,044 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,452/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,531/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,500, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,000) and comes to 0.59, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,452 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,905 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,229 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,994 |
| $110,001+ | $19,531 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $11,452 per year here. With expected earnings around $47,601 a decade out, that's a workable number - Pell, state grants, and any institutional aid are doing real work to make it accessible, but families should still model debt carefully across four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) face a net price of about $14,229 per year. These households typically get less Pell support and partial institutional aid, so the tuition bill is more directly felt. Whether the math works depends on the major: programs with stronger early earnings can absorb this cost; lower-paying majors will produce a longer payback period.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families in the $110,000+ bracket pay an average of $19,531 per year.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Emporia State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $46,195 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $50,458 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,719 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $71,002 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,717 | C |
| Psychology | $53,022 | C |
| Public Health | $48,325 | D |
| Biology | $65,043 | B |
| Marketing | $55,527 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,003 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (CIP 1312) graduates 140 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $43,933 and four-year earnings of $46,195. Median program debt is $23,976 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C+. Teacher education leads to relatively low-volatility employment but capped wages, so debt management matters more than at higher-earning majors.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific (CIP 1313) graduates 85 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $43,954 and four-year earnings of $50,458. Median program debt is $22,500 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C+. Teacher education leads to relatively low-volatility employment but capped wages, so debt management matters more than at higher-earning majors.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration, Management, and Operations (CIP 5202) graduates 75 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $40,528 and four-year earnings of $60,719. Median program debt is $16,938 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, which is manageable. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of B. Business and management is the workhorse major here; outcomes track closely with the student's region and willingness to relocate for opportunity.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (CIP 5138) graduates 59 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $60,066 and four-year earnings of $71,002. Median program debt is $24,440 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, which is manageable. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of B. Nursing graduates typically enter clinical settings with strong wage floors and transferable licensure, which is why these programs hold up even at high cost.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences (CIP 2401) graduates 52 students per year. Reported median first-year earnings of $38,423 and four-year earnings of $50,717. Median program debt is $26,492 against a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69, which is tight. CampusROI assigns this program an ROI grade of C.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Emporia State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 2,239 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,918 |
The school admits roughly 97.7% of applicants, putting it in the broad-access category (ACT Composite 25th-75th of 18-24). For prepared students with solid high school records the admit decision is unlikely to be the binding constraint here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Emporia State University sits at ROI 44 with 16.3yr payback.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia State University (this school) | 44 | $16,261 | $47,601 |
| University of Kansas | 76 | $18,059 | $61,945 |
| Fort Hays State University | 52 | $12,569 | $48,928 |
| Shepherd University | 50 | $11,363 | $49,358 |
| Eastern Oregon University | 43 | $17,148 | $50,112 |
| Fairmont State University | 43 | $9,032 | $46,857 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Emporia State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
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. 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.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Emporia State University scores 44/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $16,261 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,601 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 16.3 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a long payback period.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Emporia State University: Common Questions
Is Emporia State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Emporia State University scores 44/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $16,261 a year after aid against $47,601 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 16.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Emporia State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,261 a year, or roughly $65,044 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Emporia State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,601 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,801 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Emporia State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 16.3 years for Emporia State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Emporia State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $33,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Emporia State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.