Emporia State University Recognized as a National Model for Student Success by Carnegie Classification

Recognition spotlights ESU as a leader in access and upward mobility.

Emporia, KS (05/15/2025) — Emporia State University has been designated an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. This recognition positions ESU as a national model for how institutions can foster student success.

The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of the newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification, published recently. The classification evaluates how well colleges and universities reflect the communities they serve and whether their students go on to earn competitive wages in their region - key indicators of upward mobility and impact.

The Carnegie Foundation designated Emporia State as a Higher Access, Higher Earnings institution. In 2025, only 479 institutions nationwide - approximately 16% of all colleges and universities included in this classification - received the recognition of Opportunity College and University-Higher Access, Higher Earnings.

"This recognition from the Carnegie Foundation affirms the new direction we've charted for Emporia State University," said R. Brent Thomas, ESU provost and vice president for academic affairs. "We're focused on delivering career-ready programs, maintaining affordability and ensuring that every student has the tools and support they need to succeed academically and beyond. Being named an Opportunity College with Higher Access, Higher Earnings validates our commitment to opening doors and building futures."

The methodology behind the Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings from the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate how well institutions compare to peers in providing access and driving positive economic outcomes for students.

More information about 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications, including the methodology, can be found here.

About the Carnegie Classification

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis, and it was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.

About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education.

About the American Council on Education

ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member colleges, universities, and associations, ACE designs solutions for today's challenges and advances public policy to support a diverse and dynamic higher education sector. Learn more at www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on X (formerly Twitter) @ACEducation and LinkedIn american-council-on-education.