Babson vs. Emerson

Deciding between Babson College and Emerson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Babson College
Emerson College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Babson Wellesley, MA
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Babson Large Suburban
  • Emerson Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Babson 3,932
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Type
  • Babson Private 4 Year
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Babson #108
  • Emerson #208
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Babson -
  • Emerson -
  • Status
  • Babson Non-profit
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Babson
  • Emerson
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Babson $57,152
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Babson $57,152
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Room & Board
  • Babson $21,550
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Average Net Price
  • Babson $32,019
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Babson $48,173
  • Emerson $26,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Babson 39%
  • Emerson 77%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Babson 9,381
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Admitted
  • Babson 1,603
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Babson 17.1%
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Babson 39%
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Babson 1460
  • Emerson 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • Babson 32
  • Emerson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Babson 3.79
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Babson A-
  • Emerson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Babson Exceptional
  • Emerson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Babson Very High
  • Emerson Low
  • ACT Range
  • Babson 31/34
  • Emerson 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Babson 1390/1530
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Babson Test optional
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Babson Jan 3, 2027
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Babson 15:1
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Babson
    • Business (100%)
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Babson 90%
  • Emerson 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Babson $108,500
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Babson 88%
  • Emerson 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Babson $26,000
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Babson $268
  • Emerson $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Babson 57%
  • Emerson 29%
  • % Women
  • Babson 43%
  • Emerson 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Babson Very High
  • Emerson Medium
  • HBCU
  • Babson No
  • Emerson No
  • % White
  • Babson 38%
  • Emerson 67%
  • % Asian
  • Babson 12%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % Black
  • Babson 5%
  • Emerson 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Babson 10%
  • Emerson 11%
  • % Native American
  • Babson 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Babson 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Babson 2%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % International
  • Babson 26%
  • Emerson 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Babson 6%
  • Emerson 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Babson 18%
  • Emerson 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Babson 53%
  • Emerson 67%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Babson Yes
  • Emerson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Babson No
  • Emerson No
  • Meal Plan
  • Babson Yes
  • Emerson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Babson No
  • Emerson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Babson No
  • Emerson No

Comparable Facts

Compare Babson College in Wellesley, MA with Emerson College in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emerson College is larger than Babson based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 3,932 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Babson College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Emerson College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Babson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Babson College 15:1; Emerson College 14:1.

Babson vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Babson or Emerson? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Babson College than Emerson ($32,019 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emerson College are 2.9% lower than at Babson College ($20,920 vs. $21,550).
  • Babson College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $96 more per year; $57,152.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Babson than at Emerson College (about $96 more per year; $57,152.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Babson College (77% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Babson College students is 78.4% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($48,173 vs. $26,997).

Babson vs. Emerson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Babson or Emerson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Emerson and Babson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Babson College (1460) is 110 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming Babson students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 1390/1530; Emerson College 1270/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Babson College 31/34; Emerson College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Babson - Test optional; Emerson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Babson Jan 3, 2027; Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Babson students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Babson (17.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at Babson vs. 15.5% at Emerson.

Babson vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Babson and Emerson? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Babson College's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Babson College earn a median of about $59,300 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,500 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emerson College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Babson graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Emerson graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Babson graduates ($242 vs. $268).
  • More Babson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.