Emerson vs. Olin College

Should I go to Emerson College or Olin College of Engineering? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Emerson or Olin College 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. Olin College of Engineering comparison
Emerson College Olin College of Engineering College 3 College 4
Emerson College Olin College of Engineering
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Overview

Emerson Olin College
Location Boston, MA Needham, MA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,670 402
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #215
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu olin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson Olin College
Tuition (In State) $54,400 $59,972
Tuition (Out of State) $54,400 $59,972
Room & Board $20,310 $19,820
Avg Net Price $50,703 $40,370
Avg Grant Aid $26,447 $41,116
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 100%

Admission

Emerson Olin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,092 928
Admitted 5,267 201
Acceptance Rate 47.5% 21.7%
Enrolled % 18.9% 48.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.9
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 30/33 34/35
SAT Range 1250/1410 1480/1560
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, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Emerson Olin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Engineering (100%)

Outcomes

Emerson Olin College
Graduation Rate 81% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 80% -
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $14,710
Median Loan Payment $242 $152

Diversity

Emerson Olin College
% Men 4% 4%
% Women 23% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 53%
% Black 3% 0%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 7% 8%
% Unknown Race 3% 11%

Students

Emerson Olin College
% In-State 15% 12%
% Out-of-State 68% 79%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Emerson College is larger than than Olin College based on total student enrollment (5,670 students vs. 402 students)

Emerson vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Olin College?

  • Olin College of Engineering is 10.2% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($59,972.00 vs. $54,400.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.2% higher at Olin College than Emerson College ($59,972.00 vs. $54,400.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Olin College of Engineering than Emerson ($40,370 vs. $50,703)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Olin College of Engineering are 2.5% lower than costs at Emerson College ($19,820 vs. $20,310)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Olin College of Engineering than Emerson College (100% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Olin College of Engineering students is 55.5% larger than aid received Emerson College ($41,116 vs. $26,447)

Emerson vs. Olin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Olin College of Engineering (1506) is 295 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming Olin College students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Olin College 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 (47.5%) than Olin College (21.7%)

Emerson vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or Olin College? 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 Olin College and Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at Olin College is higher than Emerson College (96% vs. 81%)
  • Olin College of Engineering students graduate with a $8,790 lower median federal student loan debt than Emerson graduates. ($14,710 vs. $23,500)
  • Olin College graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than Emerson graduates. ($152 vs. $242)

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