Applying as a Transfer Student

At Emerson, we define a transfer student as anyone with a high school diploma or GED (General Equivalency Diploma) who has matriculated full-time at another college or enrolled part-time for three or more college courses (9 or more college credits). Students with college credits earned prior to high school graduation (e.g., dual enrollment) are considered first-year applicants.

Interested in learning more about transferring to Emerson College? Attend an information session with a member of our Transfer Team or schedule a virtual 1-to-1 meeting with our Transfer Outreach Intern. You'll have the chance to learn about Emerson's transfer process, academic programs, and more!

Deadlines

How to Apply

There are two ways to apply online: the Common Application or the Emerson Application.

You will receive an application acknowledgment via email once your online application has been submitted. If you applied via the Common Application, you will receive an email acknowledgment and instructions for how to create your Emerson Application Portal account within two business days. Get started today!

What You Need

Supporting Academic Credentials

The following supporting credentials are required for transfer applicants. Please include your full name and date of birth on all application materials that you submit.

• High School Transcript or GED: An official, final high school transcript or GED indicating your date of graduation is required.
• College/University Transcript: An official transcript is required from each college or university you have attended. For your current institution, make sure the transcript indicates courses in progress. Successful candidates typically have maintained a 3.0 grade point average in previous college coursework. However, we will consider any special circumstances you list in your application. If you have transcripts from a college or university outside the United States, you need to have them evaluated by World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), or the Center for Educational Documentation before the application deadline. Processing international credentials may take up to eight weeks, so please allow sufficient time for your documents to arrive by the application deadline. We do not require a Registrar Report.
• Academic Evaluation: One letter of recommendation is required. While we prefer an evaluation from a college professor, we will accept a recommendation from an academic advisor, employer, or a professional with whom you have worked closely.
• Educational Gaps: Emerson requires students to provide an explanation of activities for any gaps in their education.
• Midterm Grades: As part of the application review process, the admission committee may request current semester midterm grades.
• SAT or ACT Test Results: Submitting standardized test scores is optional for transfer students, but students with fewer than 30 completed college credits are encouraged to send their scores if they feel as though it helps their application. As part of the application review process, the admission committee may request official standardized test scores to be submitted. Our SAT code is 3367. Our ACT code is 1820.

International Transfer Students

• If you have not completed at least three years of consecutive study (at the secondary or post-secondary level) at an institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction, you are require to take the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo exam to be considered for admission.
• If you have completed at least three years of consecutive study (at the secondary or post-secondary level) at an institution that uses English as its primary language of instruction, submitting an SAT or ACT score is optional for transfer students, but students with fewer than 30 completed college credits are encouraged to send their scores if they feel as though it helps their application. As part of the application review process, the admission committee may request that official SAT or ACT test scores be submitted.  
  • For more information, please visit our International Student Requirements page.

Major or Program-Specific Requirements

Additional materials may be required for the following:

• Comedic Arts Applicants
• Media Production Applicants
• Performing Arts Applicants

Please note, Comedic Arts only accepts applicants with 32 credits or fewer and IDS only accepts applicants with 48 or fewer credits. Both programs are only available for fall term enrollment.

Creative Sample

If you are applying to a program that requires a creative sample, you will be able to submit one in the Application Portal after submitting your Common Application with Emerson Supplement, or Emerson Application, and application fee payment.*

* If you submit your application close to or on the application deadline, we encourage you to upload your Creative Sample as soon as possible. We understand that this may delay your Creative Sample submission beyond the application deadline.

Submitting Your Application

All application materials may be submitted electronically through Common Application, Slate.org, Parchment and Scoir. Or send them to:

Emerson College Undergraduate Admission
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

After You Submit

Check the Status of Your Application Credentials

If you applied via the Common Application, you will receive an email acknowledgment and instructions for how to create your Emerson Application Portal account. You can use the Application Portal to check the status of your application. You will also receive acknowledgment via email when your application becomes complete, including all supporting credentials. If you applied via Emerson App then the Student Portal is automatically created for you.

Log in to the Application Portal now

Please keep in mind that it may take up to two weeks for credentials to show in our system after they have been received. Materials that are postmarked by the appropriate application deadline will be considered on time. Feel free to contact us if your application materials do not show in the Application Portal within two weeks.

Apply for Financial Aid & Merit Scholarships

If you apply for Regular Decision, please do not wait for an admission decision before you complete your financial aid application.

Financial aid application instructions Merit scholarship information

Watch for Updates from Emerson

We will send you information to the mailing address and email address listed on your application. Please make sure to check your mail and email so that we can provide you with important updates. We also ask that you update your email settings to allow correspondence from admission [at] emerson.edu (admission[at]emerson[dot]edu). Remember that if you opt out of emails from Emerson College, you may miss important deadline reminders! Decision Notification dates are listed above. 

Additional Info & Partnerships

Articulation Agreements

Emerson has articulation agreements with Miami Dade College (MDC) and Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC). These agreements make it possible for MDC and BHCC students to maximize the number of credits that they are able to transfer to Emerson. MDC and BHCC students interested in admission to Emerson through an articulation agreement are encouraged to contact Lisa Yaeger at lisa_yaeger [at] emerson.edu (lisa_yaeger[at]emerson[dot]edu) during the first year of their associate’s degree program.

The following PDFs may not be accessible for assistive technologies. If you need assistance accessing this file's contents, please contact us.

• Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) Articulation Agreement
• Miami Dade College (MDC) Articulation Agreement
• Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Articulation Agreement
• Roxbury Community College (RCC) Articulation Agreement​​​​​​

Admission Agreements

Emerson College has admission agreements with several area community colleges. These agreements establish guidelines for students interested in transferring to Emerson. A list of participating colleges can be found below:

• Bristol Community College (BCC)
• College of the Canyons (CA)
• Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)
• Greenfield Community College (GCC)
• Holyoke Community College (HCC)
• Massasoit Community College (MCC)
• Middlesex Community College of MA (MCC)
• Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC)
• Nashua Community College (NCC)
• North Shore Community College (NSCC)
• Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC)
• Roxbury Community College (RCC)

Students who attend one of these partner schools are encouraged to contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission for eligibility details and fee waiver procedures.

Re-Applying

Applicants who have previously completed an application for transfer admission to Emerson College within the last academic year may submit our reactivation form. (Previously submitted applications need to include the following documents: Common Application; Writing Supplement; Final High School Transcript (official); Official Transcripts from all previous colleges attended and test scores—unless eligible for waivers.)

Applicants who submitted an application more than one academic year prior must follow the regular transfer admission process.