The National Teachers Hall of Fame is in Emporia, which says a lot about the town's university. Emporia State opened in 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School, and teacher education is still at its centre. Its School of Library and Information Management is one of the longest-running library schools in the US. It's a small public university of around 5,000 students, halfway between Wichita and Kansas City.
Emporia, Kansas, United States
Official website: emporia.edu
1863
Public university
ALA-accredited MLS programme
About 5,000 students
$16,000 – $20,000
International students, tuition and fees
$9,000 – $12,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on emporia.edu before you apply.
Master of Library Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 68
BSE Elementary Education
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 68
BS Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 68
Teacher education, and home of the National Teachers Hall of Fame.
A long-established library and information science school.
Low tuition for a four-year university.
Education graduates teach in Kansas schools and beyond.
Library science graduates work in public, academic and corporate libraries.
F-1 graduates can apply for OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling, by June
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling, by November
Postgrad
Rolling
Emporia is a small town in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, on I-35. The campus is a few blocks from Commercial Street.
Life is quiet and cheap. Wichita and Kansas City are each about 90 minutes away by car.
Form I-20 issued by Emporia State
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Emporia State admits international students on a rolling basis. Apply by June for fall and by November for spring.
Most programmes start in August or January.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Emporia State first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Library science, the MBA, computer science, education and business are popular. Undergraduates need secondary school completion and TOEFL 68 or IELTS 6.0. Graduate study needs a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
Emporia State offers international scholarships based on grades, and graduate assistantships in some departments.
