Emerson College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrolls 3,870 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value3
Affordability5
Selectivity85
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 51.3%, Emerson College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
51.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1270 – 1420
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Emerson College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Emerson College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $49,180 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$49,180
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$57,056
Room & Board (on-campus)
$20,920
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,866
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,443
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,443
Total Cost of Attendance
$80,399
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$32,650
$30,001 – $48,000
$32,621
$48,001 – $75,000
$41,927
$75,001 – $110,000
$46,252
Over $110,000
$57,288
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$23,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$29,12590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $2,500
No Pell $17,188
↓ $5,812
Dependent students $19,354
↓ $3,646
Independent students $12,500
↓ $10,500
Female students $18,790
↓ $4,210
Male students $19,000
↓ $4,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($23,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
81% of full-time students who enrolled at Emerson College graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
81%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Emerson College earn a median of $62,832 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,832
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Emerson College is home to 3,870 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,870
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
13%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 54.8%2,121
International 15.0%582
Hispanic 11.5%445
Black 6.1%234
Asian 5.7%222
Other 5.1%197
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Emerson College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityBoston, Massachusetts
Housing
Mostly residential2,583 beds on campus
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Emerson College offers
a varied set of programs:
23 distinct programs across
7 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Emerson College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$551M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,897
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
234 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
41
18%
$125,665
Associate Professors
74
32%
$97,041
Assistant Professors
62
26%
$80,020
Lecturers
57
24%
$90,271
Pros & Cons of Emerson College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Emerson College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Emerson College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Emerson College.
Is Emerson College hard to get into?
Admissions at Emerson College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 51.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Emerson College?
Emerson College has an acceptance rate of 51.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Emerson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Emerson College scored between 1270 and 1420 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Emerson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Emerson College scored between 29 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Emerson College cost?
The average net price after aid at Emerson College is $49,180 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Emerson College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,832 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $49,180 per year. That's roughly 1.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Emerson College known for?
Emerson College is best known for its programs in Communication Disorders Sciences and, Film & Video Production, Drama & Theatre. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Emerson College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Emerson College are $62,832, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Emerson College accredited?
Yes. Emerson College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Emerson College?
Emerson College enrolls 3,870 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Emerson College?
Emerson College graduates 81% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Emerson College a public or private college?
Emerson College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Emerson College located?
Emerson College is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What programs does Emerson College offer?
Emerson College offers 23 distinct programs. The most popular include Communication Disorders Sciences and, Film & Video Production, Drama & Theatre.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Emerson College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Emerson College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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