Emerson vs. Columbia

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (35,173 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Columbia University in the City of New York is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Columbia University in the City of New York 6:1.

Emerson vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Columbia? 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 Columbia University in the City of New York than Emerson ($22,520 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 16% lower than at Emerson College ($17,580 vs. $20,920).
• Columbia University in the City of New York is 25.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $14,789 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.9% higher at Columbia than at Emerson College (about $14,789 more per year; $71,845.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Columbia University in the City of New York (77% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 148.2% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($67,010 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Columbia Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Columbia University in the City of New York (1550) is 200 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
• Incoming Columbia 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: Emerson College 1270/1420; Columbia University in the City of New York 1510/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Columbia University in the City of New York 34/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Columbia - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Columbia Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Emerson (3.73).
• Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Columbia (4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 64.9% at Columbia.

Emerson vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Columbia? 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).

• Columbia University in the City of New York's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
• Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median of about $58,400 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($107,600 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia University in the City of New York graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Columbia graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($222 vs. $242).
• More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 76%)

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.