Emerson vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Deciding between Emerson College and University at Albany? 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
University at Albany

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • University at Albany- SUNY Albany, NY
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • University at Albany- SUNY Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • University at Albany- SUNY 17,560
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • University at Albany- SUNY Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • University at Albany- SUNY #223
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • University at Albany- SUNY -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • University at Albany- SUNY Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • University at Albany- SUNY
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • University at Albany- SUNY $10,866
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • University at Albany- SUNY $31,256
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • University at Albany- SUNY $16,423
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • University at Albany- SUNY $17,949
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • University at Albany- SUNY $11,210
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • University at Albany- SUNY 32,442
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 69.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • University at Albany- SUNY 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • University at Albany- SUNY B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • University at Albany- SUNY Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • University at Albany- SUNY Low
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • University at Albany- SUNY 22/31
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • University at Albany- SUNY 1120/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • University at Albany- SUNY Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • University at Albany- SUNY
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (14%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • University at Albany- SUNY $55,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • University at Albany- SUNY $21,065
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • University at Albany- SUNY $217
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 44%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • University at Albany- SUNY High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 49%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 8%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 15%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 3%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • University at Albany- SUNY 5%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Emerson Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Emerson No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Meal Plan
  • Emerson Yes
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Emerson No
  • University at Albany- SUNY No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Emerson No
  • University at Albany- SUNY Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University at Albany is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (17,560 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); University at Albany is in Albany, NY (Small City setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Albany is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; University at Albany 16:1.

Emerson vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany than Emerson ($17,949 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Albany are 21.5% lower than at Emerson College ($16,423 vs. $20,920).
  • Emerson College is 425.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $46,190 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $10,866.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 82.5% higher at Emerson than at University at Albany (about $25,800 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $31,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at Emerson College (96% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 140.8% larger than aid received by University at Albany students ($26,997 vs. $11,210).

Emerson vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and Emerson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 130 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1220).
  • Incoming Emerson students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at University at Albany- SUNY).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; University at Albany 1120/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; University at Albany 22/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3).
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.1%) than Emerson (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY.

Emerson vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany's (64%).
  • Graduates from University at Albany earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,800 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Albany graduates have a $2,435 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($21,065 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, University at Albany- SUNY graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($217 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University at Albany- SUNY 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.