Emerson vs. Lafayette College

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

Emerson Lafayette College
Location Boston, MA Easton, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,891 2,729
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #235 #65
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu lafayette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson Lafayette College
Tuition (In State) $52,288 $58,110
Tuition (Out of State) $52,288 $58,110
Room & Board $19,528 $17,336
Avg Net Price $51,432 $37,186
Avg Grant Aid $24,360 $24,981
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 98%

Admission

Emerson Lafayette College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,109 10,500
Admitted 5,176 3,531
Acceptance Rate 42.7% 33.6%
Enrolled % 19.4% 21.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/32 30/33
SAT Range 1250/1430 1330/1480
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Emerson Lafayette College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Emerson Lafayette College
Graduation Rate 81% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $81,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 91%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $268

Diversity

Emerson Lafayette College
% Men 28% 50%
% Women 72% 50%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 67%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 7% 9%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

Emerson Lafayette College
% In-State 14% 16%
% Out-of-State 69% 76%

Campus

Emerson Lafayette 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 Lafayette College based on total student enrollment (5,891 students vs. 2,729 students)

Emerson vs. Lafayette College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Lafayette College?

  • Lafayette College is 11.1% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($58,110.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.1% higher at Lafayette College than Emerson College ($58,110.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lafayette College than Emerson ($37,186 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lafayette College are 12.6% lower than costs at Emerson College ($17,336 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lafayette College than Emerson College (98% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lafayette College students is 2.5% larger than aid received Emerson College ($24,981 vs. $24,360)

Emerson vs. Lafayette College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lafayette College (1294) is 83 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming Lafayette College students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Lafayette College (3.53)
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (42.7%) than Lafayette College (33.6%)

Emerson vs. Lafayette College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or Lafayette 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 Lafayette College and Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at Lafayette College is higher than Emerson College (88% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Lafayette College earn on average $31,800 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($81,000 vs. $49,200)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Lafayette College graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Lafayette College graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More Lafayette College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 80%)

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