Emerson vs. City College of New York

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY City College is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); CUNY City College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; CUNY City College 15:1.

Emerson vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or City College of New York? 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 CUNY City College than Emerson ($4,664 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY City College are 9.9% lower than at Emerson College ($18,840 vs. $20,920).
• Emerson College is 677.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $49,716 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 273.2% higher at Emerson than at CUNY City College (about $41,766 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Emerson College (88% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 176.5% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($26,997 vs. $9,763).

Emerson vs. City College of New York Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or City College of New York? 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 City College of New York and Emerson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 100 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; CUNY City College 1070/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; City College of New York - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; City College of New York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than Emerson (51.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 12.3% at City College of New York.

Emerson vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and City College of New York? 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).

• Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from CUNY City College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,800 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $12,100 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($11,400 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($117 vs. $242).
• More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 52%)

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.