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BU NYU Fordham Syracuse Northeastern Emmanuel College Bentley Skidmore College Pratt Institute Babson Chapman Brandeis University| Emerson College | Arcadia University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Glenside, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 5,670 | 3,142 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #215 | #471 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Presbyterian Church (USA) | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | emerson.edu | arcadia.edu | ||
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Costs |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,400 | $47,590 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,400 | $47,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $20,310 | $16,250 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $50,703 | $26,994 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,447 | $34,234 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 78% | 100% |
Admission |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,092 | 6,688 | ||
| Admitted | 5,267 | 5,296 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.5% | 79.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 7.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1410 | 1083/1310 | ||
| 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 | Feb 20, 2026 |
Academics |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 62% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,200 | $46,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $279 |
Diversity |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 28% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 32% | ||
Campus |
Emerson | Arcadia | ||
| 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 Arcadia based on total student enrollment (5,670 students vs. 3,142 students)
Emerson vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Arcadia?
- Emerson College is 14.3% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($54,400.00 vs. $47,590.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.3% higher at Emerson than Arcadia University ($54,400.00 vs. $47,590.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Emerson ($26,994 vs. $50,703)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 25% lower than costs at Emerson College ($16,250 vs. $20,310)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Arcadia University than Emerson College (100% vs. 78%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Arcadia University students is 29.4% larger than aid received Emerson College ($34,234 vs. $26,447)
Emerson vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or Emerson .
- The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 107 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
- Incoming Emerson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Arcadia (25)
- Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
- Arcadia has a higher acceptance rate (79.2%) than Emerson (47.5%)
Emerson vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Emerson or Arcadia? 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 Arcadia and Emerson.
- The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Arcadia University (81% vs. 62%)
- Graduates from Emerson College earn on average $2,800 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($49,200 vs. $46,400)
- Emerson College students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Arcadia graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
- Emerson graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Arcadia graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
- More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/