Emerson vs. Harvard

Deciding between Emerson College and Harvard University? 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
Harvard University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Emerson vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Harvard? 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 Harvard University than Emerson ($17,525 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emerson College are 1.3% lower than at Harvard University ($20,920 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 8.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $4,620 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Harvard than at Emerson College (about $4,620 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Harvard University (77% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 151.9% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($68,015 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 200 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Emerson vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Harvard? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $87,500 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $17,000 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($6,500 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $175 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($67 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

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.