Emerson vs. Worcester State University

Should I go to Emerson College or Worcester State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Emerson or Worcester State University 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. Worcester State University comparison
Emerson College Worcester State University College 3 College 4
Emerson College Worcester State University
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Overview

Emerson Worcester State University
Location Boston, MA Worcester, MA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 5,670 5,611
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #215 #565
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu worcester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson Worcester State University
Tuition (In State) $54,400 $970
Tuition (Out of State) $54,400 $7,050
Room & Board $20,310 $12,999
Avg Net Price $50,703 $14,307
Avg Grant Aid $26,447 $7,332
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 75%

Admission

Emerson Worcester State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,092 4,745
Admitted 5,267 4,264
Acceptance Rate 47.5% 89.9%
Enrolled % 18.9% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33
SAT Range 1250/1410 1008/1280
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 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

Emerson Worcester State University
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 (21%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Emerson Worcester State University
Graduation Rate 81% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $206

Diversity

Emerson Worcester State University
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 23% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 71%
% Black 3% 8%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Emerson Worcester State University
% In-State 15% 92%
% Out-of-State 68% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Emerson College is larger than than Worcester State University based on total student enrollment (5,670 students vs. 5,611 students)

Emerson vs. Worcester State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Worcester State University?

  • Emerson College is 5,508.2% more expensive to attend than Worcester State University for in-state tuition ($54,400.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 671.6% higher at Emerson than Worcester State University ($54,400.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Worcester State University than Emerson ($14,307 vs. $50,703)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester State University are 56.2% lower than costs at Emerson College ($12,999 vs. $20,310)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Emerson College than Worcester State University (78% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 260.7% larger than aid received Worcester State University ($26,447 vs. $7,332)

Emerson vs. Worcester State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 191 points higher than at Worcester State University (1020)
  • Incoming Emerson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Worcester State University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Worcester State University (3.3)
  • Worcester State University has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Emerson (47.5%)

Emerson vs. Worcester State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson or Worcester State University? 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 Worcester State University and Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Worcester State University (81% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates of Emerson College and Worcester State University have equivalent average earnings after ten years ($49,200 vs. $49,200)
  • Worcester State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Emerson graduates. ($20,000 vs. $23,500)
  • Worcester State University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Emerson graduates. ($206 vs. $242)
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Worcester State University students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 66%)

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