Emerson vs. Brown

Deciding between Emerson College and Brown University? 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.

Emerson College
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Brown University 6:1.

Emerson vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Brown? 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 Brown University than Emerson ($26,256 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 16.6% lower than at Emerson College ($17,444 vs. $20,920).
  • Brown University is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $14,356 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.2% higher at Brown than at Emerson College (about $14,356 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Brown University (77% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 127.4% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($61,392 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. Brown Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 200 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Emerson vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $38,400 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($15,000 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($155 vs. $242).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.