Emporia State University

Last Updated By • March 28, 2023

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Studying Big Data at Emporia State

Emporia State University appears in our ranking of the 15 Most Affordable Master’s in Data Science Online.

Founded in 1902, the School of Library and Information Studies partners with the School of Business to give Emporia State University post-grads an M.S. in Informatics. Chaired by Dr. Ellen Hansen, the 36-credit, interdisciplinary STEM major centers on turning raw data into useful analyses across sectors. Graduates engage with experienced faculty at an 18:1 ratio face-to-face in Kansas, online via Blackboard, or in a hybrid mix. The “College of Distinction” allows ESU post-grads to pick from two specializations: Geoinformatics or Quantitative Economics. Both share rigorous courses like Database Design, Information Retrieval, Advanced Statistics, and Econometrics. The 24-month, full-time program culminates with thesis research or an internship. Students might also be interested in the Information Literacy Certificate, Leadership in Information Organizations Certificate, or Mathematics Certificate.

About Emporia State University

Emporia State University was chartered under the Morrill Land-Grant Act in March 1863 by Governor Thomas Carney to educate teachers. Two years later, the Normal School opened at Amos Adams Lawrence’s donated estate with just two women enrolled. During the early 1900s, it split into three to create Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State too. By 1977, Emporia State earned university status for a public, coed liberal arts-based education. Budgeting $104.1 million, ESU now educates 2,127 post-grad Hornets, including M.S. in Informatics majors. Both online and on-site, Emporia State has a 19-building base with the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence in Kansas’ Greater Topeka area. Linked to 23,640 LinkedIn alumni, ESU has nurtured notable minds like Panos Zavos, Kay Alden, Grant F. Timmerman, and Evan Lindquist.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Emporia State as the 122nd best Midwest school and 37th top public regional college with the 92nd best online graduate business programs nationally. On Niche, ESU features America’s 439th best campus, 244th best public education, and 524th most diversity. College Factual recognized Emporia State University for the country’s 381st best value, 63rd best information science program, and 106th highest-paid Big Data grads. The Social Mobility Index placed ESU 254th for opportunity. In Washington Monthly, Emporia stood out for the 95th highest Ph.D. completion rate and 217th top research expenditures. PayScale calculated a 20-year net ROI of $151,000 for Emporia State University alums. College Choice also picked Emporia’s SLIM Program 31st for informatics education.

Emporia State University Accreditation Details

In July 2015, Emporia State University underwent a comprehensive evaluation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to continue its Level V accreditation through 2025 under 17th president Dr. Allison Garrett. From Chicago, this regional agency with the U.S. Department of Education’s backing reviews the quality for ESU’s 64 baccalaureate, 31 master’s, one doctoral, and 15 certificate programs at seven locations from Andover to El Dorado. Emporia State is authorized by the Kansas State Department of Education. The School of Library and Information Management has the state’s only American Library Association (ALA) accreditation. Plus School of Business courses are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Emporia State University Application Requirements

Getting into Emporia State University is deemed “non-competitive” by Peterson’s for the high Fall 2016 acceptance rate of 82 percent. The M.S. in Informatics requires finishing a 120-credit accredited curriculum for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science. Acceptable majors include economics, geography, mathematics, statistics, geology, earth science, and social science. The prerequisites are explicitly Statistics, Calculus, C++ Programming, and Economics. Concentrating in Geoinformatics also requires at least one GIS and Cartography course. Full admission mandates a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits, but probationary status is available. The Graduate School generally requests a minimum GMAT score of 450 or GRE score of 300. Exhibiting evidence of intellectual ability and leadership promise is most important. If foreign applicants live in non-English speaking countries, TOEFL internet scores are needed over 79 with no sections below 20.

Emporia State University has rolling domestic admission to enter the M.S. in Informatics program anytime. However, international students must abide the deadlines of May 1st for Fall, October 1st for Spring, and March 1st for Summer starts. The Graduate School requires interested post-grads to create online ID verification for submitting information on the Application Portal. Hard copies are welcomed to 313 Plumb Hall or Campus Box 4003 at 1 Kellogg Circle in Emporia, KS 66801. Admission counselors can aid the process via gradinfo@emporia.edu or (620) 341-5403. Future data analysts reduce their rejection risk by submitting all these:

  • $50 Board of Regents application fee
  • Official transcripts for every college credit
  • List of graduate institutions attended
  • Letters of reference from two sources
  • Current professional résumé or CV
  • Original, two-page objectives statement
  • TOEFL scores and certification of finances (international only)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time Kansas graduates earning the M.S. in Informatics on-site pay $3,178 per semester. The Neighbors in Education and Recruitment and Retention (NEARR) rate for Midwestern neighbors is currently $4,357 each term full-time. Non-resident graduates pay $8,137 for full-time tuition. Living in the Emporia campus’ housing like Towers Complex adds $4,455 for room and board. ESU suggests budgeting $500 for textbooks, $600 for transportation, $55 for loan fees, and $1,025 for miscellaneous. Total M.S. cost of attendance ranges from $9,813 to $14,772 per semester. Online, the School of Library & Information Management bills Kansans $343 and non-residents $664 per credit. The technology fee of $42 is added to every online course.

According to the NCES College Navigator, 75 percent of full-time ESU Hornets share $16.93 million in annual buzz-worthy financial offers worth $5,878 on average. Institutional funds include the Boylan Scholar Award, Robert Grover Graduate Scholarship, McNair Scholarship, Newbold Scholar Award, Elberta Harris Scholarship, New Graduate Student Scholarship, Latino Legacy Scholarship, and Durst Research Award. The Corky Plus Tuition lowers fees for Missouri and Oklahoma residents of 25 counties, such as Cherokee, Pottawatomie, and Buchanan. Completing the FAFSA application with code 001927 opens Federal Stafford Unsubsidized and Graduate Plus loans. The Hope Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit provide tax relief. Graduate assistantships will waive costs for up to four courses each semester. Emporia State University also suggests external Big Data funds like the Bertelsmann Scholarship, Strong Analytics Scholarship, Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship, or BHW Group Scholarship.

Learn more about Emporia State University at the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies website.

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