Emerson vs. MHC

Deciding between Emerson College and Mount Holyoke College? 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
Mount Holyoke College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emerson College is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

Emerson vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College than Emerson ($32,526 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 5.9% lower than at Emerson College ($19,684 vs. $20,920).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $9,962 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.5% higher at MHC than at Emerson College (about $9,962 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College as at Mount Holyoke College (77% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 94.2% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($52,418 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. MHC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 110 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 27.2% at MHC.

Emerson vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and MHC? 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Mount Holyoke College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,000 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $2,294 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($21,206 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($219 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 77%)

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.