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Downtown Emporia, KSPhoto: Ethan James Scherrer · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Emporia

Emporia is home to two colleges, with 3,568 students on campus

Emporia State University (2,458 students on campus) and Flint Hills Technical College (1,110) are inside the city. About 13% of Emporia’s residents are enrolled in college, above Kansas (7%).

Emporia State UniversityFlint Hills Technical College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Emporia. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
3,568 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
Emporia State
Residents in college
13%
Above KS (7%)
Nearest community college
2 mi
Flint Hills Technical College · $6,400 tuition
Nearest public university
1.2 mi
Emporia State · $7,106 in-state
Median household income
$53K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Emporia

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 2 milesEmporia State University admits 98% of applicants. Together they have 3,568 students on campus.In-state price at Emporia StateLiving in Kansas, Emporia State University charges $7,106 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $15,419. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 2 miles awayFlint Hills Technical College in Emporia: tuition and fees $6,400 a year for Kansas residents.Students are 13% of residentsAbove Kansas (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Emporia

Both are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Emporia.

5 mi10 mi15 miEmporia StateFlint Hills Technical CollegeEmporia
University or collegeCommunity college
Emporia State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 2,458 on campus · In Emporia98%admitted$16knet price56%graduate$48kearningsFlint Hills Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,110 on campus · In Emporia$16knet price68%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $6,400 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Emporia’s median household income ($52,704) falls.

Emporia State UniversityIn Emporia · sticker $21,967$14,229a year
Flint Hills Technical CollegeIn Emporia · sticker $20,965 · tuition $6,400$16,464a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Emporia: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Emporia StateFlint Hills Technical College
Emporia State University56% graduate$48k earnings$20k typical debt
Flint Hills Technical College68% graduate$47k earnings$7k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Emporia

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Emporia’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Education 23%Health professions 20%Business 17%Biology 5%Liberal arts 5%Psychology 5%Everything else 25%

Biggest programs

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEmporia State University · 140 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEmporia State University · 85 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsEmporia State University · 75 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingEmporia State University · 59 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesEmporia State University · 52 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralEmporia State University · 47 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Public HealthEmporia State University · 35 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralEmporia State University · 25 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Emporia

Is Emporia a college town?

No. About 13 of every 100 Emporia residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Kansas (7). The largest campus in the city, Emporia State University, has 2,458 students on campus.

What colleges are in Emporia?

Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Emporia, and what does it cost?

Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia, 2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,400 a year for Kansas residents; the federal net price, $16,017, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Emporia State University cost if we live in Kansas?

Tuition and fees are $7,106 a year in-state and $15,419 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,452 (under $30,000 income) to $19,531 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Emporia. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →