Undergraduate Financial Aid

Emerson’s Office of Financial Aid works with students and families to make the financial aid process clearer, more manageable, and more personal.

From applying for aid to understanding your offer, comparing costs, exploring student employment, and planning for the years ahead, our team can help you make informed choices.

About three-fourths of Emerson families receive some form of financial assistance. We encourage you to apply for financial aid, including merit scholarships awarded by the Office of Admissions, need-based grants, student employment, and student loans overseen by the Office of Financial Aid.

By the Numbers

76%

Of families receive some form of financial assistance
12K+

Positions available annually for student employment
$85M

In annual awarded need-based and merit-based financial aid

Student Employment

Student employment can help you earn money while building experience you can actually use.

Through Emerson’s Student Employment Program, students work across campus and with approved off-campus partners, gaining skills in offices, studios, theaters, production spaces, and community organizations throughout Boston.

For Marieska Luzada ’23, that meant finding a work-study opportunity with Lyric Stage Company of Boston during orientation week. She later became the company’s press and digital marketing assistant — gaining real communications experience while helping support the cost of college.

Learn More

Scholarships

Upon acceptance, students will automatically be considered for one of our merit scholarships, which vary in value up to full tuition coverage.

The Office of Financial Aid has also gathered a list of private scholarship opportunities to support your search.

All Undergraduates

Aspire Scholarship	For incoming students who are at the top of Emerson’s applicant pool and who have demonstrated a high level of academic distinction as well as qualities such as leadership and a community service-focus. The amount of the Aspire Scholarship ranges between $5,000–$22,500 per semester of full time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Trailblazer Scholarship	For incoming students who have set themselves apart within Emerson’s applicant pool through demonstrated distinctive academic success as well as qualities such as leadership, creativity, community engagement, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $7,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Visionary Scholarship	For incoming students who have demonstrated significant academic success within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $5,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Spotlight Scholarship	For incoming students who have demonstrated academic success within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. The Spotlight scholarship is $3,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. Recipients are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Alliance Scholarship	This scholarship is given to incoming students who are enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major and who have demonstrated academic success within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $5,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Pioneer Scholarship	For incoming students who have demonstrated strong academic success within their school communities as well as compelling qualities such as leadership, community engagement, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Expression Scholarship	For incoming students who have demonstrated significant potential for success at Emerson, both academically and within the community through leadership, community engagement, and creative endeavors. Students are awarded $2,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

First-Year Applicants Only

Trustees Scholarship	This prestigious scholarship is given to applicants accepted into the Honors Program. Students are awarded $15,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. Students are required to maintain a 3.3 GPA (3.0 GPA in the Honors curriculum). A separate Honors Program essay must be submitted with your admission application in order to be considered for this scholarship.
Musical Theatre Scholarship	The Musical Theatre Scholarship covers Tuition, Fees, and Food & Housing (Room and Board). It is offered to an incoming first-year Musical Theatre student who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the performing arts along with evidence of strong academic and leadership potential. The scholarship is provided for up to 4 years.
Creative Circle Scholarship	This prestigious scholarship is awarded to applicants accepted into the Emerson Circle of Creative Scholars (ECCS), who have demonstrated significant academic success within their school communities and shown leadership, commitment to community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. This scholarship covers tuition, fees, food, and housing (room and board). The mission of ECCS is to help students navigate the academic, social, and career development landscape at Emerson as they achieve their personal goals. We will provide students with a holistic, enriching Emerson experience through programmatic support focused on the eight dimensions of wellness: intellectual/academic, financial, occupational, emotional, environmental, physical/health, social, and spiritual. By focusing on these dimensions, Emerson will be ensuring that students will enhance and expand their Emerson experience while demonstrating knowledge and awareness of the tools needed to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Students are required to enroll full-time, participate in ECCS programming and maintain a 3.0 GPA. This award is renewable for up to eight semesters for First-Year students.

Trustees Scholarship

This prestigious scholarship is given to applicants accepted into the Honors Program. Students are awarded $15,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. Students are required to maintain a 3.3 GPA (3.0 GPA in the Honors curriculum). A separate Honors Program essay must be submitted with your admission application in order to be considered for this scholarship.

Musical Theatre Scholarship

The Musical Theatre Scholarship covers Tuition, Fees, and Food & Housing (Room and Board). It is offered to an incoming first-year Musical Theatre student who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the performing arts along with evidence of strong academic and leadership potential. The scholarship is provided for up to 4 years.

Creative Circle Scholarship

This prestigious scholarship is awarded to applicants accepted into the Emerson Circle of Creative Scholars (ECCS), who have demonstrated significant academic success within their school communities and shown leadership, commitment to community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. This scholarship covers tuition, fees, food, and housing (room and board).

The mission of ECCS is to help students navigate the academic, social, and career development landscape at Emerson as they achieve their personal goals. We will provide students with a holistic, enriching Emerson experience through programmatic support focused on the eight dimensions of wellness: intellectual/academic, financial, occupational, emotional, environmental, physical/health, social, and spiritual. By focusing on these dimensions, Emerson will be ensuring that students will enhance and expand their Emerson experience while demonstrating knowledge and awareness of the tools needed to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Students are required to enroll full-time, participate in ECCS programming and maintain a 3.0 GPA. This award is renewable for up to eight semesters for First-Year students.

Global BFA Applicants

Global BFA Pioneer Scholarship	This scholarship is given to incoming students who have demonstrated strong academic success within their school communities as well as compelling qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Global BFA Expression Scholarship	This scholarship is awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated significant potential for success, at Emerson, both academically and within the community through leadership, community engagement and creative endeavors. Students are awarded $2,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.
Global BFA Trailblazer Scholarship	This scholarship is given to incoming students who have set themselves apart within Emerson’s applicant pool through demonstrated distinctive academic success as well as qualities such as leadership, creativity, community engagement, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $7,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Transfer Applicants

Miami Dade College Scholarship	This scholarship is eligible for select students transferring from Miami Dade College who earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 prior to matriculation at Emerson College. This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition. The Miami Dade College scholarship is limited to fall term enrollment and students must have a complete transfer application by the priority application deadline. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship	Starting for new students in Fall 2026: This scholarship is eligible for select students that are Phi Theta Kappa members in good standing and who earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 prior to matriculation at Emerson College. This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition. The Phi Theta Kappa Achievement scholarship is limited to fall term enrollment and students must have a complete transfer application by the priority application deadline. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.
Commonwealth Transfer Scholarship	Starting for new students in Fall 2026: This scholarship is eligible for all Massachusetts community college graduates who earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 prior to matriculation at Emerson College. The scholarship is for $40,000 per year/$20,000 per semester and students are eligible for spring or fall enrollment. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.
Next Chapter Scholarship	Starting for new students in Fall 2026: This scholarship is eligible for all out of state community college graduates who earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 prior to matriculation at Emerson College. The scholarship is for $30,000 per year/$15,000 per semester and students are eligible for spring or fall enrollment. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.