BC vs. Emerson

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston College
Emerson College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Emerson Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Emerson #208
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Emerson -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Emerson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Emerson $26,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Emerson 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Emerson 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Emerson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Emerson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Emerson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Emerson Low
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Emerson 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Emerson 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Emerson 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Emerson $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Emerson 29%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Emerson 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Emerson Medium
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Emerson No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Emerson 67%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Emerson 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Emerson 11%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Emerson 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Emerson 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Emerson 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Emerson 67%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston College is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Emerson College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Emerson College 14:1.

BC vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 Boston College than Emerson ($32,519 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 9.6% lower than at Emerson College ($18,916 vs. $20,920).
  • Boston College is 23.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $13,646 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.9% higher at BC than at Emerson College (about $13,646 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Boston College (77% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 111% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($56,971 vs. $26,997).

BC vs. Emerson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 140 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming BC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Emerson College 1270/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Emerson College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Emerson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 15.5% at Emerson.

BC vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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).

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $41,700 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($19,000 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($196 vs. $242).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.