- Acceptance rate: 51% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 660–720 reading and writing, 610–700 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 29–32 composite
- Average net price: $50,703 a year (2022–23)
On this page · 7 sections
How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? GPA calculator
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Emerson College reported: an acceptance rate of 51% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 29–32.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Emerson College reviews each application.
Emerson College GPA requirements
Emerson College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Emerson College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Emerson College acceptance rate
Emerson College admitted 5,325 of 10,378 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 51%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Emerson College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Boston, Massachusetts, with 3,908 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Emerson College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 660 | 690 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 650 | 700 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 31 | 32 |
| ACT English | 29 | 33 | 35 |
| ACT Math | 25 | 27 | 30 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1358 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Emerson College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Emerson College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $50,703 a year at Emerson College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Emerson College?
Moderately selective: more than half of applicants got in. Emerson College admitted 51% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What is Emerson College's acceptance rate?
Emerson College's acceptance rate was 51% for fall 2024: it admitted 5,325 of 10,378 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does GPA matter at Emerson College?
A lot: Emerson College requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school class rank, test scores, demonstration of competencies and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into Emerson College?
Emerson College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for Emerson College?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Emerson College admitted 51% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What are Emerson College's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Emerson College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 660–720 in reading and writing and 610–700 in math; ACT composite 29–32, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does Emerson College require the SAT or ACT?
No. Emerson College is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 16% sent SAT scores and 5% sent ACT scores.
What is the average net price at Emerson College?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $50,703 a year at Emerson College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Emerson College consider legacy status?
No. Emerson College doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Emerson College?
Yes. Emerson College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Emerson College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Emerson CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Bentley UniversityModerate · 45% admitted
- Brandeis UniversityModerate · 40% admitted
- Worcester Polytechnic InstituteFairly easy · 60% admitted
- Berklee College of MusicModerate · 44% admitted
- Clark UniversityModerate · 40% admitted
- Anna Maria CollegeFairly easy · 50% admitted
See all colleges in Massachusetts →