Emerson vs. Jefferson

Should I go to Emerson College or Thomas Jefferson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Emerson or Jefferson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Emerson College vs. Thomas Jefferson University comparison
Emerson College Thomas Jefferson University College 3 College 4
Emerson College
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Overview

Emerson Jefferson
Location Boston, MA Philadelphia, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 5,891 8,286
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #235
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu jefferson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson Jefferson
Tuition (In State) $52,288 $43,100
Tuition (Out of State) $52,288 $43,100
Room & Board $19,528 $14,715
Avg Net Price $51,432 $28,110
Avg Grant Aid $24,360 $32,486
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 100%

Admission

Emerson Jefferson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,109 5,723
Admitted 5,176 5,085
Acceptance Rate 42.7% 88.9%
Enrolled % 19.4% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 27/31
SAT Range 1250/1430 1130/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 20, 2025 Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Emerson Jefferson
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)

Outcomes

Emerson Jefferson
Graduation Rate 81% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $122,900
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $12,500
Median Loan Payment $242 $129

Diversity

Emerson Jefferson
% Men 28% 27%
% Women 72% 73%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 72%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

Emerson Jefferson
% In-State 14% 63%
% Out-of-State 69% 35%

Campus

Emerson Jefferson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Thomas Jefferson University is larger than than Emerson based on total student enrollment (8,286 students vs. 5,891 students)

Emerson vs. Jefferson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Jefferson?

  • Emerson College is 21.3% more expensive to attend than Jefferson for in-state tuition ($52,288.00 vs. $43,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 21.3% higher at Emerson than Thomas Jefferson University ($52,288.00 vs. $43,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas Jefferson University than Emerson ($28,110 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Jefferson University are 32.7% lower than costs at Emerson College ($14,715 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Emerson College (100% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Jefferson University students is 33.4% larger than aid received Emerson College ($32,486 vs. $24,360)

Emerson vs. Jefferson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or Jefferson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Jefferson or Emerson .

  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have at the same average high school GPA (3.73) as students at Jefferson (3.73)
  • Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Emerson (42.7%)

Emerson vs. Jefferson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or Jefferson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Jefferson and Emerson.

  • Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $73,700 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $49,200)
  • Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Emerson graduates. ($12,500 vs. $23,500)
  • Jefferson graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Emerson graduates. ($129 vs. $242)
  • More Jefferson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/