Emerson vs. Lipscomb

Deciding between Emerson College and Lipscomb 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
Lipscomb University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Lipscomb Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Lipscomb Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Lipscomb 5,017
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Lipscomb Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Lipscomb #267
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Lipscomb Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Lipscomb Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Lipscomb

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Lipscomb $40,572
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Lipscomb $15,424
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Lipscomb $27,695
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Lipscomb $28,645
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Lipscomb 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Lipscomb 4,261
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Lipscomb 2,886
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Lipscomb 67.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Lipscomb 24.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Lipscomb 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Lipscomb 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Lipscomb 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Lipscomb A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Lipscomb Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Lipscomb Low
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Lipscomb 23/30
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Lipscomb 1160/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Lipscomb Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Lipscomb

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Lipscomb 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Lipscomb
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Lipscomb $46,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Lipscomb 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Lipscomb $20,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Lipscomb $211

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Lipscomb 37%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Lipscomb Low
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Lipscomb No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Lipscomb 77%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Lipscomb 3%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Lipscomb 7%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Lipscomb 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Lipscomb 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Lipscomb 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Lipscomb 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Lipscomb 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Lipscomb based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 5,017 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Lipscomb University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lipscomb University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Lipscomb University 13:1.

Emerson vs. Lipscomb Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Lipscomb? 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 Lipscomb University than Emerson ($27,695 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lipscomb University are 26.3% lower than at Emerson College ($15,424 vs. $20,920).
  • Emerson College is 40.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lipscomb (about $16,484 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $40,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.6% higher at Emerson than at Lipscomb University (about $16,484 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $40,572.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lipscomb University than at Emerson College (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lipscomb University students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($28,645 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Lipscomb Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 80 points higher than at Lipscomb (1270).
  • Incoming Emerson students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Lipscomb).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Lipscomb University 1160/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Lipscomb University 23/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Lipscomb - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have the same average high school GPA (3.73) as students at Lipscomb (3.73).
  • Lipscomb has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than Emerson (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 24.9% at Lipscomb.

Emerson vs. Lipscomb Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Lipscomb? 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).

  • Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Lipscomb University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Emerson College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Lipscomb graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lipscomb University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($20,500 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Lipscomb graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($211 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lipscomb students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)

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.