Emmanuel College
Boston, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 75.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Emmanuel College is a small Catholic liberal arts college in Boston's Fenway neighborhood, with 1,854 enrolled students and a Fair Value ROI score of 64. The school benefits from its location - Boston is a major hub for healthcare, finance, and higher education - but the ROI data shows the benefit doesn't transfer cleanly to graduates. The payback period is 7.4 years, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 is poor. Most programs carry C-range ROI grades. Only Accounting and Economics show earnings strong enough to offset the $26,706 net price. The 67.5% completion rate means one in three students doesn't finish - a meaningful risk for a school charging near-private prices even after aid. Biology is the largest program by graduate count (46 per year) but earns a C ROI grade.
Emmanuel College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,550/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,550/yr |
| Average net price | $26,706/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $106,824 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,245 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,854 |
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: $48,550/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $26,706/year, or roughly $106,824 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 $20,399/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,832/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,500) and comes to 0.68, 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 | $20,399 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,611 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,008 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,577 |
| $110,001+ | $30,832 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $20,399 per year at Emmanuel. That's above $20,000, and most programs at the school have C-range ROI outcomes. Low-income students who attend and don't complete are at significant financial risk. For those who do complete, the Boston job market helps, but the debt-to-earnings ratio at the school level (0.68) signals that many borrowers are stretched.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30k-48k bracket pays $20,611 - barely more than the lowest income tier, which is unusual and may reflect aid program design. The 48k-75k bracket rises to $24,008 and the 75k-110k bracket reaches $26,577. The slope is gradual, which is a positive signal for middle-income families. The question remains whether the outcomes justify the cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $30,832 per year. For a high-income family, this is a manageable cost. But the school's average earnings of $39,500 at six years and a 67.5% completion rate are not strong signals for families paying near-full freight.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Emmanuel College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $69,269 | C |
| Clinical Psychology | $62,013 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,110 | C |
| Teacher Education | $55,866 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,625 | C |
| Marketing | $78,338 | C |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $39,006 | C |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $60,022 | D |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | $32,451 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $67,814 | D |
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.
Biology
Biology is Emmanuel's largest program, graduating 46 students per year. One-year median earnings of $45,275 reflect the reality of most bio graduates: they're entering health-related fields or graduate school, where immediate earnings are modest. By year four, the median rises to $69,269. Median debt is $27,000 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, earning a C ROI grade. Many biology graduates pursue medical school, dental school, or graduate programs in the life sciences - meaning the 6-year earnings data doesn't fully reflect lifetime career value for those who continue their education. For students stopping at the bachelor's level, earnings in allied health roles or research are moderate.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration graduates 26 students per year with one-year earnings of $46,518 and four-year earnings of $65,625. Median debt of $26,000 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, ROI grade C. These outcomes reflect the Boston business market, where entry-level business roles are plentiful but competition from larger and more credentialed programs is intense. Students who leverage Boston's financial services, healthcare administration, and tech sectors during school tend to outperform the median. Internship and co-op activity is critical here.
Accounting
Accounting is Emmanuel's clearest ROI winner, with 15 graduates per year earning $63,595 in year one. One-year data only is available, but accounting starting salaries are among the most stable and predictable of any business major. Boston has strong demand from the Big Four accounting firms, regional firms, and the large healthcare sector. CPA licensure preparation is built into the curriculum. For students committed to accounting, Emmanuel's Boston location creates recruiting access that is real and demonstrable. This is the program where the school's value proposition holds up best.
Economics
Economics graduates 15 per year with year-one median earnings of $51,698 and year-four earnings of $68,905. Median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 gives a C+ ROI grade. The Boston location helps - financial services, consulting, and healthcare analytics firms recruit broadly in the metro. Students who double with accounting or data-focused courses tend to build stronger profiles.
Teacher Education
Teacher education graduates 29 per year with one-year earnings of $42,216 and four-year earnings of $55,866. Median debt is $27,000 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, ROI grade C. Emmanuel's education graduates largely enter the Boston metro school system, which offers stable employment and defined benefit pensions. For students committed to teaching, the Massachusetts premium helps justify the cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Emmanuel 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 | 75.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-670 |
| Enrollment | 1,854 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,788 |
Emmanuel admits three-quarters of applicants, signaling a moderately selective school that is broadly accessible. The SAT range is 570-670 math and 600-670 reading. The 75.6% admission rate means this is a school where most qualified applicants get in. Academic fit and financial aid terms matter more than admission chances here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel College (this school) | 64 | $26,706 | $68,245 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | 68 | $22,655 | $64,072 |
| Elizabethtown College | 66 | $26,598 | $62,399 |
| John Brown University | 64 | $20,397 | $53,907 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Emmanuel admits 75.7% of applicants with SAT math scores of 570-670 and SAT reading of 600-670. The school draws students who want a small college experience in a major city. Students most likely to succeed are those who arrive with a clear career path - accounting, pre-med, or education - and actively use Boston's internship and employment ecosystem. Students choosing it for a general liberal arts experience should weigh the debt-to-earnings ratio carefully.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Emmanuel College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $26,706 a year after aid ($106,824 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $68,245 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Emmanuel College: Common Questions
Is Emmanuel College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Emmanuel College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $26,706 a year after aid ($106,824 over four years) against $68,245 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Emmanuel 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 $26,706 a year, or roughly $106,824 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 Emmanuel College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,245 ten years after enrolling, roughly $26,445 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 Emmanuel 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 7.4 years for Emmanuel College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Emmanuel College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Emmanuel College?
The six-year graduation rate is 67.5%, 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.
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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.