Emerson vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Emerson vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Penn? 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 of Pennsylvania than Emerson ($23,570 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pennsylvania are 8.3% lower than at Emerson College ($19,174 vs. $20,920).
• University of Pennsylvania is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $11,630 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at Penn than at Emerson College (about $11,630 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $57,056.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at University of Pennsylvania (77% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 142.5% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($65,458 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 190 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
• Incoming Penn students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Emerson).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Emerson (3.73).
• Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 68% at Penn.

Emerson vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Penn? 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).

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $74,400 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,867 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($20,633 vs. $23,500).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($213 vs. $242).
• More Penn 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.