Emerson vs. University of Dayton

Should I go to Emerson College or University of Dayton? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Emerson or University of Dayton 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Cleveland State Miami Xavier Ohio State Butler UC BU NYU Wright State Fordham Syracuse Marquette University
Emerson College vs. University of Dayton comparison
Emerson College University of Dayton College 3 College 4
Emerson College University of Dayton
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Emerson University of Dayton
Location Boston, MA Dayton, OH
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 5,670 11,304
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #215 #206
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu udayton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson University of Dayton
Tuition (In State) $54,400 $47,600
Tuition (Out of State) $54,400 $47,600
Room & Board $20,310 $15,640
Avg Net Price $50,703 $31,551
Avg Grant Aid $26,447 $31,852
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 95%

Admission

Emerson University of Dayton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,092 22,747
Admitted 5,267 14,023
Acceptance Rate 47.5% 61.6%
Enrolled % 18.9% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/33 26/31
SAT Range 1250/1410 1195/1370
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, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Emerson University of Dayton
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)

Outcomes

Emerson University of Dayton
Graduation Rate 81% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $268

Diversity

Emerson University of Dayton
% Men 4% 14%
% Women 23% 14%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 78%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Emerson University of Dayton
% In-State 15% 54%
% Out-of-State 68% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Dayton is larger than than Emerson based on total student enrollment (11,304 students vs. 5,670 students)

Emerson vs. University of Dayton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or University of Dayton?

  • Emerson College is 14.3% more expensive to attend than University of Dayton for in-state tuition ($54,400.00 vs. $47,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.3% higher at Emerson than University of Dayton ($54,400.00 vs. $47,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Dayton than Emerson ($31,551 vs. $50,703)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Dayton are 29.9% lower than costs at Emerson College ($15,640 vs. $20,310)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Dayton than Emerson College (95% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Dayton students is 20.4% larger than aid received Emerson College ($31,852 vs. $26,447)

Emerson vs. University of Dayton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 24 points higher than at University of Dayton (1187)
  • Incoming Emerson students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at University of Dayton (27)
  • Accepted freshman University of Dayton students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Emerson (3.73)
  • University of Dayton has a higher acceptance rate (61.6%) than Emerson (47.5%)

Emerson vs. University of Dayton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or University of Dayton? 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 University of Dayton and Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than University of Dayton (81% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from University of Dayton earn on average $8,100 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $49,200)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Dayton graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than University of Dayton graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More University of Dayton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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