Emerson vs. Barnard

Deciding between Emerson College and Barnard 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.

Emerson College
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Barnard College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emerson College is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Emerson vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Barnard? 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 Barnard College than Emerson ($26,407 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emerson College are 3.7% lower than at Barnard College ($20,920 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 22.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $12,832 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at Barnard than at Emerson College (about $12,832 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Barnard College (77% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 133.8% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($63,131 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or Barnard? 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 Barnard and Emerson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 170 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Emerson vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Barnard? 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $17,700 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $5,653 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($17,847 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($184 vs. $242).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.