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Emerson College

Emerson College

Boston, MA · City · 3,870 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$49,180
Average net priceYour net price
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
78%
Graduation rate
54% typical
$62,832
Earnings 10 years on
$55,177 typical
51%
Acceptance rate
82% typical · not scored
Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education
About

Located in the heart of Boston's Theater District overlooking Boston Common, Emerson College is a specialized liberal arts institution renowned for its top-tier programs in visual and media arts, theater, journalism, and creative writing. The college distinguishes itself through innovative offerings like the nation’s first BFA in Comedic Arts and immersive study-away opportunities, including a dedicated industry-focused campus in Los Angeles and a 14th-century castle in the Netherlands. The student experience is intensely creative, progressive, and hands-on, shaped by a passionate community of storytellers who collaborate on student-run films, publications, and stage productions from their very first semester.

Wikipedia:Emerson College is a private college in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a school of oratory. The school offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as professional training, primarily focused on the arts and communication, grounded in a liberal arts framework. Emerson is a founding member of the ProArts Consortium, a collaborative association of six neighboring Boston-based institutions dedicated to collegiate-level arts education.

Location
Boston, MA, 02116-4624 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
BOS · Boston
3 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$57,056
Housing & food (on campus)$20,920
Books & supplies$1,250
Cost of attendance$88,292
Average net price$49,180
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$57,056
Housing & food (on campus)$20,920
Books & supplies$1,250
Cost of attendance$88,292
Average net price$49,180
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: emerson.edu
How it’s made up
Tuition$60,160
Fees$1,100
Housing$22,464
Books & supplies$1,256
Personal expenses$1,852
Transportation$1,460
Total of the above$88,292
Source: emerson.edu
Net price by family income
$0–30k
$32,650
$30–48k
$32,621
$48–75k
$41,927
$75–110k
$46,252
$110k+
$57,288
Grants from the school
76% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $26,068
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
78%
Within 4 yrs
71%
Back for yr 2
87%
Transferred
0%
Pell students: 70.2% · others: 78.5% 
8 yrs after starting
78% graduated · 15% transferred · 7% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings
6 yrs after entry$42,799
10 yrs after entry$62,832
Debt
Median at graduation$23,000
Monthly payment$244
Middle 50% owe$12k–$27k
90th percentile$29,125
Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (larger programs): 54% graduate within 6 yrs, $55,177 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
51%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1358
R 660–720 · M 610–700
ACT midpoint
30
Comp 29–32 · E 29–35 · M 25–30
SAT middle 50%: 1270–1420
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 48.7% · women 52.4% 
Yield: 15.5% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If Emerson College asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 34%Women 66%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
14 : 1
Pell grant
16%
First-gen
13%
Family income
$93,112
Independent
4%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
1%
Where first-years come from
In state (MA)
15.0%
Out of state
66.5%
International
18.2%

Most out-of-state first-years from: CA 95 · NY 62 · NJ 60 · CT 41 · PA 35

Race & ethnicity
White
55%
Hispanic
12%
Black
6%
Asian
6%
Two or more
5%
Non-resident
15%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III without football
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs
After 6 yrs
$42,799
After 10 yrs
$62,832
Film/Video and Photographic Arts298
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft102
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies92
Journalism68
Business/Commerce, General50
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication44
Marketing41
Communication and Media Studies24
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other19
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas11
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services9
Music2
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication1
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$265M
Full-time faculty
32%
Faculty salary
$11,853/mo
Teaching spend
$13,023
per student
Federal loans
43%
Classification
Carnegie type
Master's (larger programs)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Emerson College is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search