Colby College vs. Emerson

Should I go to Colby College or Emerson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or Emerson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colby College vs. Emerson College comparison
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Colby College Emerson College
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Overview

Colby College Emerson
Location Waterville, ME Boston, MA
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 2,299 5,891
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #235
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu emerson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Emerson
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $52,288
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $52,288
Room & Board $16,330 $19,528
Avg Net Price $16,951 $51,432
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $24,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 78%

Admission

Colby College Emerson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 12,109
Admitted 1,286 5,176
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 42.7%
Enrolled % 52.3% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34 30/32
SAT Range 1430/1540 1250/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Feb 20, 2025

Academics

Colby College Emerson
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)

Outcomes

Colby College Emerson
Graduation Rate 91% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $242

Diversity

Colby College Emerson
% Men 48% 28%
% Women 52% 72%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 67%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 11% 7%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

Colby College Emerson
% In-State 7% 14%
% Out-of-State 79% 69%

Campus

Colby College Emerson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Emerson College is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (5,891 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Emerson?

  • Colby College is 16.4% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.4% higher at Colby College than Emerson College ($60,840.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Emerson ($16,951 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 19.6% lower than costs at Emerson College ($16,330 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Emerson College than Colby College (78% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 153.3% larger than aid received Emerson College ($61,714 vs. $24,360)

Colby College vs. Emerson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Emerson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Emerson or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 152 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College 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 (42.7%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Emerson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Emerson and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Emerson College (91% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $24,200 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $49,200)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $4,155 lower median federal student loan debt than Emerson graduates. ($19,345 vs. $23,500)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than Emerson graduates. ($200 vs. $242)
  • More Colby College 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/