Quick Facts About Emerson
Category
Independent, nondenominational college focused on communication and the arts in a liberal arts context. Classified as a comprehensive, MA I institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Founded
1880
President
Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt
Location
Boylston and Tremont streets on Boston Common in the heart of the city’s Theatre District
Accreditation
New England Commission of Higher Education
Tuition & Fees 2025-2026
Tuition
$57,984/year for a new full-time undergraduate student
Room & Board
$21,652/year (double room)
Per Credit
$1,812
Financial Aid
Approximately 79% of students receive financial assistance in the form of scholarships and grants, low-interest loans, and part-time employment. 14.7% of students receive federal Pell Grants.
Institutional Financial Aid Distributed
Approximately $70M for undergraduate and graduate students
Academic Programs
Admission Demographics
First-Year Admission Profile (Fall 2022)
Applications
12,109
Admitted
5,176
Enrolled
1,002
Legal Sex
Women
68%
Men
32%
Ethnicity
International Students
16%
African American
6%
Asian/Pacific Islander
5%
Hispanic
11%
Multiracial
6%
Race Unknown/not reported
2%
White
55%
Geographic Distribution of First–Year Undergraduate Students
New England
25%
Mid Atlantic
18%
Midwest
6%
South/Southwest
17%
West/Mountain/Pacific
16%
International & U.S. Territories
18%
Standardized Test Scores, GPA & Class Rank
SAT
Middle 50% Composite
1270-1410
Middle 50% Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
650-730
Middle 50% Math
600-700
ACT
Middle 50% Composite
30-32
*29% of students submitted either an SAT or ACT score
Grade Point Average
3.73 (unweighted, 4.0 scale)
Class Rank
Graduated in the top 10 percent
33%
Graduated in the top quarter
68%
Graduated in the top half
94%
*24% of secondary schools reported a rank in class
English as a Second Language
If English is not your first language, a minimum iBT TOEFL score of 95, Cambridge English score of 185, Duolingo English score of 125, Pearson's Test of English Academic score of 65, or IELTS score of 7.0 is required.
Transfer Admission
Emerson welcomed 187 transfer students this fall. They came from other four-year colleges and universities as well as two-year community colleges. Some transfers had a semester or a full year of coursework, while others had earned an associate’s degree and were seeking to continue in a four-year program.
Applied
842
Accepted
480
Enrolled
187
Legal Sex
60% female / 40% male
College GPA Average
3.53 (4.0 scale)
Co-curricular Activities
More than 100 student organizations and performance groups, student publications, and honor societies
Athletics
14 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s teams