IIT vs. Emerson

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology and Emerson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Emerson College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • Emerson Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • Emerson #208
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • Emerson -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • Emerson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • Emerson $26,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • Emerson 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • Emerson 1350
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • Emerson 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • Emerson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • Emerson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • Emerson Low
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • Emerson 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • Emerson 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • Emerson 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • Emerson $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • Emerson 29%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • Emerson 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • Emerson Medium
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • Emerson No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • Emerson 67%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • Emerson 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • Emerson 11%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • Emerson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • Emerson 4%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • Emerson 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • Emerson 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • Emerson 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • Emerson 67%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IIT Yes
  • Emerson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IIT No
  • Emerson No
  • Meal Plan
  • IIT Yes
  • Emerson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IIT Yes
  • Emerson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • IIT No
  • Emerson No

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL with Emerson College in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Institute of Technology is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (8,834 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Emerson College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Emerson College 14:1.

IIT vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT or Emerson? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than Emerson ($24,796 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Institute of Technology are 17% lower than at Emerson College ($17,356 vs. $20,920).
  • Emerson College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $4,670 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at Emerson than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $4,670 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Emerson College (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 65% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($44,547 vs. $26,997).

IIT vs. Emerson Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 40 points higher than at IIT (1310).
  • Incoming Emerson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at IIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Emerson College 1270/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Emerson College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; Emerson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • IIT has a higher acceptance rate (54.9%) than Emerson (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 15.5% at Emerson.

IIT vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT and Emerson? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $30,100 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emerson College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than IIT graduates ($23,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Emerson graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($242 vs. $279).
  • More IIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.