The university was founded in March 1863 when the Kansas Legislature passed the enabling act to establish the Kansas State Normal School. Although the university was established in 1863, the first class didn't begin until February 15, 1865. The first president of the Kansas Normal School and its only teacher, Lyman Beecher Kellogg, taught 18 students on the second floor of the district school house. At the first commencement on June 28, 1867, the graduating class consisted of two women Ellen Plumb and Mary Jane Watson; the first, Judge Watson's daughter and the second from Senator Preston B. Plumb's family. Kellogg saw to it that the Normal got off to an good start before becoming a successful lawyer, honored judge, and Attorney General of Kansas. The school's first graduating class consisted of two women Ellen Plumb and Mary Jane Watson in 1867, the year the first permanent building was completed. The name "Normal" originated in France during the 17th century and was given to schools that had "model" classrooms or schools designed to educate teachers-in-training the proper practices of teaching students. The United States had many Normal schools in the 19th century and most changed their names to "Teachers College". Many later became "State Universities."
KSN branched out with locations in Pittsburg and Hays, Kansas. The western branch in Hays opened June 3, 1902 and is today known as Fort Hays State University. The Pittsburg branch was opened as the Manual Training Auxiliary School in 1904 and became a four-year school named Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg in 1913. Today it is Pittsburg State University.
In February 1923, the name of the school was changed to the Kansas State Teachers College. In July 1974, the name was changed to Emporia Kansas State College. On April 21, 1977, the college became Emporia State University. Even before any of the name changes were made official by the Kansas Legislature and Board of Regents, though, the school was called Emporia State unofficially by some in the public and in many news reports.
Dr. Michael Shonrock became the 16th president of Emporia State University on Jan. 3, 2012. On April 9, 2015, it was announced that Michael Shonrock was stepping down to become president at Lindenwood University, effective June 1; his last day was May 29. Former Butler Community College president, Dr. Jacqueline Vietti is the interim president who started June 1. By enrollment, Emporia State is the seventh-largest university in Kansas. In the Fall 2014 semester, Emporia State set a record enrollment with 6,114 students. Emporia State University comprises four colleges: the School of Business, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Library and Information Management, and the Teachers College.
In July 2013, Emporia State University was named a "Great College to Work For" by The Chronicle of Higher Education and Princeton Review included ESU among its "Best of the Midwest" institutions of higher education. Emporia State University was again named a "Great College to Work For" in 2014 by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Emporia State University is accredited by the The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers degrees in more than 80 courses of study. Emporia State has a satellite campus in Kansas City, which is mostly online classes, but some classes are held in the building.