IOLA, Kan. — Allen Community College students who transferred to Emporia State University continued a pattern of academic excellence in 2026, outperforming both the overall ESU student population and fellow community college transfer students for the second consecutive year.
According to Emporia State University’s Spring 2026 Community College Academic Progress Report, former Allen students earned a mean semester GPA of 3.51 and a cumulative GPA of 3.50. Both figures exceeded the averages for all ESU undergraduates, who posted a 3.29 semester GPA and 3.32 cumulative GPA, as well as all other community college transfer students, who recorded a 3.39 semester GPA and 3.39 cumulative GPA.
The report included 210 former Allen students enrolled at ESU during the Spring 2026 semester. Of those students, 206, or 98.1%, were in good academic standing, while only four students were on probation. No Allen transfer students were required to withdraw due to poor standing from the university.
Those results build on a similar achievement reported last year when Allen transfer students also outperformed both ESU undergraduates and community college transfer students across key academic measures.
Dr. Lyvier Leffler, president of Allen Community College, said the back-to-back results reflect the college’s commitment to student success, and the support network students experience before and after transferring.
“I think this report does a couple of things,” Leffler said. “Overall, it shows that community colleges better prepare students for four-year colleges, and it also shows that Allen better prepares those students for success at ESU, over the other Kansas community colleges, and I am extremely proud of that.”
Leffler attributed the report’s findings to the dedication and commitment of the ACC Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and community partners in creating a support system designed to help students thrive at Allen.
“Allen really is where opportunity meets community,” said Leffler. “From the vision of the Board of Trustees to the execution of duties by ACC employees, we emphasize creating a robust community of support for our students. So, when students transfer and excel at institutions like Emporia State University, it validates the work being done across every area of the college. Whether someone teaches in the classroom, supports enrollment and financial aid, maintains facilities, coaches work on and off the field, or the work of community partners like Thrive Allen County, or SEK Mental Health on our campus, every stakeholder is invested in our students’ success.”
In a letter accompanying the report, Emporia State officials praised Allen students’ performance and expressed appreciation for the continued partnership between the two institutions. ESU noted that it was pleased to once again provide an overview of the success Allen students are experiencing after transfer.
The annual report serves as one of the clearest indicators of how well students are prepared for the academic challenges of a four-year university. For the second year in a row, Allen students not only met those challenges but surpassed the performance of their peers.
Allen Community College provides quality educational and support services in an atmosphere that is caring, safe, and conducive to learning.
