Quick Facts

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 Theater District

Accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education

Tuition and Fees 2025–2026

Tuition

$57,984/year for a new full-time undergraduate student

Room and 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

• Undergraduate
• Graduate

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.

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

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

Gender

60% Female / 40% Male

College GPA Average

3.53 (4.0 scale)