Emerson vs. The New School

Comparable Facts

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

The New School is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (9,068 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); The New School is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The New School is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; The New School 9:1.

Emerson vs. The New School Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or The New School? 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 Emerson College than The New School ($53,432 vs. $67,224).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Emerson College are 17.4% lower than at The New School ($20,920 vs. $25,337).
• The New School is 2.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $1,638 more per year; $58,694.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at The New School than at Emerson College (about $1,638 more per year; $58,694.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New School than at Emerson College (94% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 21.8% larger than aid received by The New School students ($26,997 vs. $22,174).

Emerson vs. The New School Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or The New School? 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 The New School and Emerson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 100 points higher than at The New School (1250).
• Incoming Emerson students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at The New School).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; The New School 1140/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; The New School 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; The New School - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at The New School (3.59).
• The New School has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Emerson (51.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 21.3% at The New School.

Emerson vs. The New School Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and The New School? 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 The New School's (61%).
• Graduates from The New School earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,700 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Emerson College graduates have a $372 lower median loan debt than The New School graduates ($23,500 vs. $23,872).
• Among borrowers, Emerson graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New School graduates ($242 vs. $246).
• More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New School students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

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.