AU vs. Emerson

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

George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse BU NYU Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon
American University vs. Emerson College comparison
American University Emerson College College 3 College 4
American University Emerson College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

AU Emerson
Location Washington, DC Boston, MA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,885 5,891
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #235
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu emerson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Emerson
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $52,288
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $52,288
Room & Board $15,706 $19,528
Avg Net Price $41,369 $51,432
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $24,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 78%

Admission

AU Emerson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 12,109
Admitted 7,926 5,176
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 42.7%
Enrolled % 22.2% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.73
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 30/32
SAT Range 1290/1430 1250/1430
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 Jan 15, 2024 Feb 20, 2024

Academics

AU Emerson
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)

Outcomes

AU Emerson
Graduation Rate 77% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $242

Diversity

AU Emerson
% Men 37% 28%
% Women 63% 72%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 58% 67%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 7%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

AU Emerson
% In-State 2% 14%
% Out-of-State 94% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Emerson based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 5,891 students)

AU vs. Emerson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Emerson?

  • American University is 1.5% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.5% higher at AU than Emerson College ($53,070.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Emerson ($41,369 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 24.3% lower than costs at Emerson College ($15,706 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Emerson College than American University (78% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 11.4% larger than aid received Emerson College ($27,138 vs. $24,360)

AU vs. Emerson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 41 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at AU (3.7)
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (42.7%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Emerson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Emerson? 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 Emerson and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than American University (81% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $15,600 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $49,200)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($242 vs. $250)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 80%)

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