Emerson vs. Hunter

Deciding between Emerson College and CUNY Hunter 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
CUNY Hunter College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Emerson vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Hunter? 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 Hunter College than Emerson ($4,431 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 43.4% lower than at Emerson College ($11,832 vs. $20,920).
  • Emerson College is 672.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $49,674 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 272.1% higher at Emerson than at CUNY Hunter College (about $41,724 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Emerson College (87% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 176.8% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($26,997 vs. $9,755).

Emerson vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 90 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Emerson (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Emerson vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Hunter? 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 Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Emerson College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $11,952 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($11,548 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $123 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($119 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 56%)

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.