Emerson vs. NYU

Deciding between Emerson College and New York 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
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; New York University 8:1.

Emerson vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or NYU? 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 New York University than Emerson ($30,325 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emerson College are 11.1% lower than at New York University ($20,920 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $5,740 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at NYU than at Emerson College (about $5,740 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at New York University (77% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 99.7% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($53,901 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 170 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Emerson vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and NYU? 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $26,800 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($23,250 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($240 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.