BEST: Butler/Emporia Students to Teachers
Complete your teaching degree in the Wichita metro area
Designed for busy lives
In the BEST: Butler/Emporia Students to Teachers program, all courses are offered in the Wichita metro area or online. Prior to student teaching, face-to-face courses are offered in the evenings, allowing you to plan around daytime appointments, family events and work schedules. Our partnership with BCC is designed to make the transfer to ESU seamless and simple.

Transferring is super easy!
All BCC classes transfer to ESU.
Transition seamlessly
To make the transfer process as easy as possible, students should complete all of their BCC classes first. Then it's time to begin your elementary education program with The Teachers College at ESU (while still studying in the Wichita Metro area).*
*If you have a couple of classes left when entering the ESU program, you may apply for financial aid to be split between the two schools.
Scholarships + financial aid
We make college affordable
We believe the path to becoming a teacher should be affordable. Reduce the cost of an undergraduate degree by completing two years at Butler Community College and then receive additional scholarships at Emporia State as a distance transfer student. Plus, as an ESU student, there are many scholarships and avenues of financial assistance available to you.
Financial aid
Financial Aid is available from both JCCC for the General Education portion of the program and from ESU for the Elementary Education portion of the program. Students who are taking classes from both JCCC and ESU at the same time may qualify for joint financial aid. Students need to contact both the ESU's financial aid office and the Butler Community College financial aid office to find out more information.
Financial Assistance Options
- Breidenthal Education Scholars
Breidenthal Education Scholars
Potential students who graduated from a Wyandotte County high school are eligible for the renewable scholarship.
- Elberta Harris Scholarship
Potential students who graduated from a Johnson County high school are eligible for the renewable Elberta Harris Scholarship.
- Interested in reducing the cost of going to college?
After attending community college for two years you can receive additional scholarships at Emporia State as a Distance Transfer Student.
- Phi Theta Kappa Membership Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa Membership Scholarship
Students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa when transferring to the program will be eligible for $1,000 in scholarships. The funds will be disbursed between the first fall and spring or spring and fall semesters of $500 each. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 hours and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
- Transfer Scholarships
Distance students that transfer to ESU with a 3.0 or higher are eligible for transfer scholarships. Students must maintain full time enrollment to receive the scholarship and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
- Teacher Service Scholarship
Potential students who are Kansas residents are eligible for the Teacher Service Scholarship.
Contact Us + Addresses
For questions or more information, please contact Todd Roberts at 785-418-9309 or troberts@emporia.edu.
BEST Office
715 E 13th St
Andover, KS 67002
5000 building, Office 5118