Emporia State University

Centrally located on a 218-acre urban campus in the hub of scenic Flint Hills within close proximity to the three major metropolitan areas of Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, Emporia State University is a comprehensive public institution with a dynamic student-centered learning environment. Despite being home to over 6,500 students, the average undergraduate class size is just 23 to provide students with personalized attention in an intimate atmosphere. As one of the premier universities in the Midwest, Emporia State is focused on academic excellence, student success, leadership, and community engagement.

As the first public institution of higher learning in Kansas, the university was first established in 1863 by the Kansas Legislature as the Kansas State Normal School with an inaugural graduating class of just two women. Since its inception, the school has been named the Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia Kansas State College, and eventually Emporia State University in 1977. Maintaining its legacy as an outstanding producer of high-quality educators, Emporia State prides itself on changing more than 150,000 students' lives in its 150 years.

Consistently named among the "Best of the Midwest" by the prestigious Princeton Review, Emporia State University is currently ranked as the 92nd best college, 32nd top public school, and 27th best university for military veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. Fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA), Emporia State is comprised of the School of Business, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Library and Information Management, and the Teachers College. Among its highest ranked programs are business administration, biological sciences, nursing, library science, elementary education, and delinquency studies.

In order to help students build leadership skills, make life-long friends, and add valuable experience to their resume, Emporia State University is home to more than 130 recognized student organizations and offers the opportunity for students to build their own. For those who are athletically inclined, Emporia State has 15 varsity teams that participate in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association of the NCAA Division II. Nicknamed the Hornets, Emporia Athletics has had four Top Four finishers in four different sports over the last four years. Some of the most notable former Hornets include Medal of Honor recipient Grant F. Timmerman, Emmy award-winning writer Kay Alden, artist Evan Lindquist, and NFL player Kelly Goodburn.