loading 6,000+ schools…
Boston, MA · Boston, MA
| Emerson College | Suffolk University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $49,180/yr | $29,618/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $32,650/yr | $24,745/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,000 | $26,889 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $32,621/yr | $25,711/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $41,927/yr | $25,702/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $46,252/yr | $29,654/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $57,288/yr | $36,264/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $285/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $20,920/yr | $21,326/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $17,866/yr | $26,992/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,250/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,443/yr | $2,854/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $80,399/yr | $65,281/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $57,056/yr | $47,550/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $57,056/yr | $47,550/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 16% | 30% |
| Students taking federal loans | 43% | 55% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 51% | 82% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1270–1420 | 1090–1300 |
| SAT average | 1358 | 1216 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 29–32 | 24–28 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 29–35 · Math 25–30 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 11,092 | 10,101 |
| Students accepted | 5,267 | 8,560 |
| Students who enrolled | 997 | 1,214 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 19% | 14% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 20% | 15% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 7% | 2% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 77% | 61% |
| Freshmen who come back | 87% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $62,832/yr | $67,506/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $33,763–$89,059 | $38,432–$99,147 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 79% | 65% |
| White students graduating | 78% | 65% |
| Black students graduating | 88% | 49% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 77% | 53% |
| Asian students graduating | 70% | 63% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $42,799/yr | $55,856/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 81% |
| Graduate on time | 71% | 49% |
| Pell students who graduate | 70% | 55% |
| First-gen students who finish | 79% | 60% |
| Low-income students who finish | 75% | 59% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 25% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $53,113/yr | $61,452/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Visual & Performing Arts 55% · Communication & Journalism 15% · English Language & Literature 12% | Business, Management & Marketing 32% · Social Sciences 12% · Communication & Journalism 12% |
| Most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 55% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 32% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 15% of degrees | Social Sciences — 12% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | English Language & Literature — 12% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Health Professions — 2% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Marketing — $67,474/yr | Business/Managerial Economics — $153,437/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 0% | 12% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,870 | 4,268 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,355 | 2,030 |
| Average professor pay | $11,853/mo | $12,891/mo |
| Full-time professors | 32% | 56% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $93,112 | $62,281 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (large) |
| Location | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1880 | 1906 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 12% |
| Men | 34% | 36% |
| Women | 66% | 64% |
| White students | 55% | 49% |
| Black students | 6.1% | 9.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 12% | 16% |
| Asian students | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| Two or more races | 5% | 2.9% |
| Other / not reported | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 13% | 30% |
| Part-time students | 1% | 2.4% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.2% | 3.7% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,023/yr | $11,805/yr |
| Endowment | $264.7M | $252.0M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,583 | 1,440 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $16,378/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $3,982/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | No |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | Yes |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division III without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 222 | 353 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $3.2M | $4.1M |
| Athletics revenue | $3.4M | $4.1M |
| Recruiting spend | $74,016 | $5,483 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.