Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private · Large city · Emerson

Private institution in Boston, MA · 4,145 undergraduates · 47% acceptance rate · $62,832 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 10%Median ACT
Top 11%Graduation rate (4-year)
Top 13%Average SAT
Top 15%Acceptance rate

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $46,7661,966th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $55,3921,894th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $55,3921,892nd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $77,1531,884th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $23,000997th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $62,832443rd highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $42,7991,043rd highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 79.3%233rd highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 87.8%321st highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 47.5%240th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1359129th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 3099th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 4,145567th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 14.0:11,172nd smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 15.0%1,934th highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 3 mi (BOS)

On 3 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

EDNov 3
ED IIJan 5
EANov 3
RDJul 25

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $65
Personal essay: Required
Writing supplement: Yes

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 14 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
MarketingBusiness	bachelors	$44,635	$44,327
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationCommunications	bachelors	$39,729	$38,289
Communication and Media StudiesCommunications	bachelors	$37,748	$28,212
JournalismCommunications	bachelors	$37,613	$38,953
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationCommunications	bachelors	$33,281	$32,264
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesEnglish Language & Literature	bachelors	$30,771	$32,021
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$30,047	$29,081
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftVisual & Performing Arts	bachelors	$27,126	$26,799
Business/Commerce, GeneralBusiness	bachelors	—	—
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesHealth Professions	bachelors	—	$21,508
Graphic CommunicationsCommunications Technology	bachelors	—	—
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies	bachelors	—	—

Campus facts

Founded in 1880source
Athletic nickname: "Lions"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
Mascot: Griff the Lionsource
Motto: ""Expression Necessary to Evolution""source
Formerly known as "Boston Conservatory of Elocution, Oratory, and Dramatic Art (1880)"source
Formerly known as "Monroe Conservatory of Oratory" (1881–1889)source
Formerly known as "Emerson College of Oratory" (1890–1938)source
Athletic conference: NEWMACsource
Notable alum: Jay Lenosource
Notable alum: Jennifer Coolidgesource
Notable alum: Brandon Leesource
Notable alum: Paul Thomas Andersonsource
Notable alum: David Crosssource

Athletics — 8 sports

NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.