Emerson College
Boston, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 51.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Emerson College in Boston scores 52 out of 100, landing in the Below Average Value tier. Tuition is $57,056 with net price at $49,180 and a four-year sticker of $196,720. Median earnings 10 years after entry are a respectable $62,832 (up sharply from $38,700 at year six, indicating strong career progression), but the 12.1-year payback period and $196,720 four-year cost still strain the math. Where Emerson genuinely excels: 77.1% completion rate, 82.2% three-year repayment rate, and median federal debt of $23,000. The portfolio is bimodal - communications, marketing, and journalism programs land at C/C+ grades with reasonable progression, while film (298 graduates, D grade) and theatre (102 graduates, F grade) are large programs where outcomes underperform the price. Emerson is a real choice with real tradeoffs for arts-and-media bound students.
Emerson College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $57,056/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $57,056/yr |
| Average net price | $49,180/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $196,720 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,832 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 77.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,870 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $57,056/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $49,180/year, or roughly $196,720 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $32,650/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $57,288/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,000, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,700) and comes to 0.59, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $32,650 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $32,621 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $41,927 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $46,252 |
| $110,001+ | $57,288 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 pay $32,650 net price - significantly below sticker but still high. Emerson's institutional aid is meaningful but does not bring the total under $30,000 even for the lowest income bracket. With $62,832 in 10-year median earnings, low-income students who land into the marketing or communications career tracks can make the math work, but film and theatre majors face structural earnings ceilings that complicate repayment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $32,621 (essentially identical to the lowest bracket) and $48,001-$75,000 pays $41,927. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket jumps to $46,252. Middle-income families are paying roughly $33,000-$46,000 net annually - private-college pricing that requires comfort with the post-graduation career plan. Massachusetts state aid through MASSGrant helps for in-state students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $57,288 - actually slightly above the $57,056 published tuition, reflecting room and board. Full-pay families spend nearly $230,000 over four years for an arts-and-media credential against $62,832 in median 10-year earnings. The math only works for students who specifically value Boston, the Emerson brand, and the program-specific networks the school provides.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Emerson College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $49,951 | D |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,760 | F |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $51,742 | D |
| Journalism | $63,337 | C |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $59,301 | D |
| Marketing | $76,623 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,202 | C+ |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $49,381 | C |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $61,496 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
By far the largest program with 298 graduates, this BFA earns a D grade. First-year earnings of $27,032 climb to $49,951 by year four against $24,250 median debt and a 0.897 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year progression is real and reflects graduates climbing into production, post-production, and content-creation roles. Emerson's LA campus and Boston-area production network give graduates real industry connections - but standard ROI math underweights the long-tail upside for the small number of graduates who break through.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
102 graduates earn an F grade. First-year earnings of $19,560 against $25,000 median debt produce the worst debt-to-earnings ratio on this profile (1.278). Four-year earnings climb to $44,760, indicating real progression for the subset who stay in or adjacent to the field. The Scorecard data systematically underweights theatre incomes (much of it freelance, gig-based, and unreported), but the headline math is a tough sell at this price.
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Ninety-two graduates earn a D grade. First-year earnings of $33,441 climb to $51,742 by year four against $24,250 median debt and a 0.725 ratio. The four-year progression is solid for a writing-intensive humanities credential. Emerson's writing-and-publishing program is well-known nationally; graduates land into editorial, copywriting, content, and publishing roles where the four-year salary curve is reasonable but the entry is tough.
Journalism
Sixty-eight graduates earn a C grade. First-year earnings of $39,703 climb meaningfully to $63,337 by year four against $24,580 median debt and a 0.619 ratio. Graduates who can navigate the difficult journalism job market come out with solid earnings progression.
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Forty-four graduates earn a D grade. First-year earnings of $28,606 climb sharply to $59,301 by year four against $24,625 median debt and a 0.861 ratio. The four-year progression more than doubles entry-level earnings, suggesting graduates are landing into agency-side advertising and PR roles where rapid promotion is standard. The entry-level number is low but the trajectory is encouraging.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Emerson College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 51.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 610-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 660-720 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-32 |
| Enrollment | 3,870 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,853 |
Emerson admits 51.3% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges run 610-700 math and 660-720 reading, ACT 29-32 - meaningfully above average. The 77.1% completion rate is consistent with the strong academic profile of admitted students. Emerson is a portfolio/audition-influenced institution for many programs (acting, film, design), so admissions involves both academic credentials and creative-work review. Prepared students with 1300+ SATs and a strong creative portfolio should expect favorable consideration.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College (this school) | 52 | $49,180 | $62,832 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | 50 | $20,729 | $53,213 |
| Park University | 50 | $21,032 | $56,309 |
| Touro University | 50 | $29,627 | $53,419 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Emerson enrolls 3,870 students with a 15.5% Pell rate - a relatively affluent student body, consistent with the high cost and arts-school profile. The fit is clearest for students committed to careers in journalism, communications, marketing, film, theatre, or PR who specifically value Boston's media-and-arts ecosystem and Emerson's robust LA campus and internship network. Students hedging into arts and media without strong commitment should expect the financial outcomes the data shows; Emerson's premium price requires conviction about the career path.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Emerson College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $49,180 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $62,832 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 77.1% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $23,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Emerson College: Common Questions
Is Emerson College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Emerson College scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $49,180 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $62,832 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Emerson College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $49,180 a year, or roughly $196,720 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Emerson College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,832 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,032 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Emerson College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.1 years for Emerson College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Emerson College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,000, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Emerson College?
The six-year graduation rate is 77.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.