Emerson vs. Fitchburg State

Should I go to Emerson College or Fitchburg State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Emerson or Fitchburg State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Emerson College vs. Fitchburg State University comparison
Emerson College Fitchburg State University College 3 College 4
Emerson College Fitchburg State University
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Overview

 Emerson Fitchburg State
Location Boston, MA Fitchburg, MA
Setting Large City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 5,891 6,554
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #235 #549
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu fitchburgstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Emerson Fitchburg State
Tuition (In State) $52,288 $970
Tuition (Out of State) $52,288 $7,050
Room & Board $19,528 $13,516
Avg Net Price $51,432 $15,535
Avg Grant Aid $24,360 $7,093
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 76%

Admission

 Emerson Fitchburg State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,109 3,084
Admitted 5,176 2,654
Acceptance Rate 42.7% 86.1%
Enrolled % 19.4% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.29
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 22/28
SAT Range 1250/1430 1020/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 20, 2025

Academics

 Emerson Fitchburg State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 Emerson Fitchburg State
Graduation Rate 81% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $22,685
Median Loan Payment $242 $234

Diversity

 Emerson Fitchburg State
% Men 28% 38%
% Women 72% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 73%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 11% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 Emerson Fitchburg State
% In-State 14% 90%
% Out-of-State 69% 10%

Campus

 Emerson Fitchburg State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fitchburg State University is larger than than Emerson based on total student enrollment (6,554 students vs. 5,891 students)

Emerson vs. Fitchburg State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Fitchburg State?

  • Emerson College is 5,290.5% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($52,288.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 641.7% higher at Emerson than Fitchburg State University ($52,288.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fitchburg State University than Emerson ($15,535 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 44.5% lower than costs at Emerson College ($13,516 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Emerson College than Fitchburg State University (78% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 243.4% larger than aid received Fitchburg State University ($24,360 vs. $7,093)

Emerson vs. Fitchburg State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or Fitchburg State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fitchburg State or Emerson .

  • The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 218 points higher than at Fitchburg State (993)
  • Incoming Emerson students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Fitchburg State (21)
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29)
  • Fitchburg State has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than Emerson (42.7%)

Emerson vs. Fitchburg State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or Fitchburg State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Fitchburg State and Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Fitchburg State University (81% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Emerson College earn on average $5,200 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates after ten years. ($49,200 vs. $44,000)
  • Fitchburg State University students graduate with a $815 lower median federal student loan debt than Emerson graduates. ($22,685 vs. $23,500)
  • Fitchburg State graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Emerson graduates. ($234 vs. $242)
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fitchburg State students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/