Emerson vs. Dartmouth

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dartmouth College is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Dartmouth College is in Hanover, NH (Remote Town setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dartmouth College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Dartmouth College 7:1.

Emerson vs. Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Dartmouth? 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 Dartmouth College than Emerson ($20,322 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dartmouth College are 4.4% lower than at Emerson College ($19,999 vs. $20,920).
• Dartmouth College is 19.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $11,212 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Dartmouth than at Emerson College (about $11,212 more per year; $68,268.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Dartmouth College (77% vs. 47%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dartmouth College students is 149.9% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($67,471 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Dartmouth Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dartmouth College (1540) is 190 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
• Incoming Dartmouth 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; Dartmouth College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Dartmouth College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Dartmouth - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Dartmouth Jan 3, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dartmouth students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Emerson (3.73).
• Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Dartmouth (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 69.1% at Dartmouth.

Emerson vs. Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Dartmouth? 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).

• Dartmouth College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
• Graduates from Dartmouth College earn a median of about $54,800 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($104,000 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dartmouth College graduates have a $10,039 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($13,461 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($139 vs. $242).
• More Dartmouth graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.