Emporia State University continuing to emerge and excel

Boasted largest freshman class since 1999

Emporia State University continues to demonstrate it is a premier student-centered University that provides high quality, state-of-the-art academic programs and opportunities that prepare undergraduate and graduate students for successful professional careers.

Fall enrollment reached a 25-year high of 6,473 because of increases in the number of entering freshmen and graduate students, and increases in the retention of undergraduate students. Enrollment rose 3 percent, up almost 200 students from last fall.

Since fall 2005, two areas have posted notable gains:

• On-campus enrollment of new students rose 10 percent, from 1,328 to 1,456, to a total on-campus enrollment of 4,973.
• The number of international students rose 80 percent.

“Our reputation of excellent faculty and the lure of affordability attract highly qualified students to ESU. We provide our students with small class sizes and low student/professor ratios. The vigorous exchange of ideas among faculty members and students, and a strong tradition of faculty-guided undergraduate research are fundamental to the ESU experience,” said Dr. John Schwenn, Interim President.

A significant portion of the University’s new students are first-time freshmen as well as on-campus students. This group saw a 10 percent increase from last fall. ESU boasted its largest freshman class since 1999.

“ESU has steadily expanded academic programs to meet the growing demands of students.  The core commitment to classroom instruction and teaching excellence is among many reasons that talented young people from across Kansas, as well as 49 other states, choose to live and study in Emporia,” said Dr. Tes Mehring, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Other proven recruitment tools are ESU’s nationally recognized advising and assessment programs, providing students with steady guidance and maximizing opportunities for success as they pursue their degrees.” 

“We continue to make progress in retaining undergraduate students at increasing rates,” said Dr. James Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs. “While the majority of the undergraduate enrollment increase is due to a larger entering class, a substantial proportion of this growth is due to our retention success. We have an excellent admissions team as well as faculty and staff who are committed to recruiting and retaining top students.”

Graduate programs are continuing to thrive and showed a 1 percent increase from last fall. The graduate program comprises roughly 30 percent of ESU’s total enrollment, the highest percentage of graduate students in the Regents system.

ESU is home to an acclaimed and emulated delivery system for distance education.  The online graduate programs have been listed by U.S. News and World Report as among the nation’s best, and the campus offers more online courses than any other Regents university.  Nine masters programs, two bachelors’ degrees, and four certificate programs are featured in the superb distance-ed catalogue.

In 2005 ESU expanded its presence in the greater Kansas City area with the opening of The Emporia State University Metro Learning Center (MLC).  This state-of-the-art satellite campus is tapping a large and diverse new base of prospective students, delivering instruction and outreach to a thriving and appreciative enrollment. Students, who would not otherwise have opportunities to earn their degrees, build strong allegiances to the main campus while never leaving metro Kansas City.

“Students come to ESU because of the wide variety of courses that meet their needs for intellectual challenge,” Mehring said. ESU is known across Kansas for the depth and breadth of those offerings.”

With more than 62 majors and an additional 52 areas of concentration leading to bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees, the academic offerings at ESU are tailored to meet the needs of the state and region, providing graduates with pathways to career achievement in high-demand fields. The nationally acclaimed ESU Department of Art has implemented a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in the Engraving Arts.  The only one in existence in the world, this BFA is the result of a three-dimensional collaboration among ESU, Glendo/GRS Corporation, and the Emporia Chamber of Commerce.

“Over 80% of ESU graduates remain in Kansas to pursue careers. Our alumni are exceptional leaders in industry, business, medical and education professions. Over $213 million are added to the Kansas economy annually, through ESU’s activities, over six times the state’s investment in the University,” Schwenn said.

ESU has the lowest cost of attendance – tuition, room, board and fees – of any university in Kansas.  Unlike most universities, ESU does not charge by the credit hour.  With a flat tuition rate, students who take more than nine credit hours have maximum flexibility to explore a wide variety of educational choices at no additional cost per hour.

“Great things are happening at ESU. The pursuit of knowledge in today’s information-fueled world is a driving force behind ESU’s vision and mission.  It is a point of great pride across campus that an unprecedented 97% of students who earn a bachelor’s degree go on to graduate school or professional positions,” Schwenn said.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>