Emerson vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Emerson College and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Emerson based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Emerson vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Emerson ($20,522 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 24.9% lower than at Emerson College ($15,714 vs. $20,920).
  • Emerson College is 218.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $39,127 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.4% higher at Emerson than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $19,615 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (77% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 61.3% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($26,997 vs. $16,742).

Emerson vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 60 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming Emerson students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Rutgers (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Emerson (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Emerson vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $1,285 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($22,215 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($229 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)

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.