Emerson College

Boston, MA

Emerson College

Boston, MA

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Undergrad Diversity International Transfer Performing Arts Visual Arts

Emerson students use their creativity and talent to push the boundaries of human expression. 

You will transform the way people think, revolutionize the way people interact, and advance ideas that change the world. There are so many ways our students move their industries forward—from directing short films, writing magazine features, and devising business plans to performing improv comedy, teaching children to speak confidently, and launching viral advertising campaigns. Whatever they do, Emerson students unite to become a creative force in communication and the arts.

Location
Located in the heart of Boston’s Theatre District and across from the iconic Boston Common, Emerson’s campus stands at the crossroads of the city. With unparalleled access to internships, museums, hospitals, theatres, and countless cultural experiences, there is never a shortage of new things for you to do. From seeing a show at a historic theatre and catching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park to getting lost in the latest exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, the city remains at your doorstep.

Beyond the Boston city limits, Emerson offers you the opportunity to spend a semester at our state-of-the-art Los Angeles center on Sunset Boulevard in California or at Kasteel Well, the College’s medieval castle in Well, the Netherlands. Emerson offers study and internship programs in Los Angeles and Washington, DC; study abroad in one of more than 20 countries, including Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Prague, and Valencia; and course cross-registration with the six-member Boston ProArts Consortium. 

Facilities 
Emerson offers you access to industry-leading facilities and equipment across all academic disciplines. The College is home to multiple theatres; a journalism production center with an integrated digital newsroom for aspiring journalists; the highly regarded Robbins Speech, Language, and Hearing Center; a state-of-the-art marketing suite and focus group room; WERS-FM, Boston’s oldest noncommercial radio station; Ploughshares, the award-winning literary journal for new writing; and much more. 

In fall 2019, our Dining Center was expanded, and we opened a new student-centered space for campus organizations, student activities, and meeting spaces.

As a new student, you will spend your first year in our newly renovated all-freshman residence, the Little Building. You will live in one of our five residence halls for your first three years.

The Honors Program 
The Honors Program is an intellectual and creative community that provides a four-year interdisciplinary, collaborative learning experience for incoming students of exceptional ability. The Honors Program supplements major study with a challenging liberal arts curriculum composed of interdisciplinary seminars, collaborative research projects, and faculty-directed independent study. Students enrolled in the Honors Program take advantage of individual advising, special lectures, interdisciplinary fulfillment of Emerson’s general education requirements, collaborative research projects, and special extracurricular activities. Admission is based on your academic record, creative accomplishments, and the submission of an Honors Program–specific essay. Students selected for the program receive our top merit award, a $26,000 Trustees Scholarship that is renewable for each academic year. 

Admission 
Emerson accepts the Common Application (commonapp.org). Students are required to complete all parts of the application, including the Emerson-specific questions and writing supplement. Other required credentials include high school transcripts and recommendation letters. Emerson has a test-optional policy for admission.

Students may elect to submit their application with standardized test scores, or they may send additional supplemental information in the place of scores. Our goal is to allow you to put your best foot forward in the admission process. Please pay particular attention to any additional requirements for your major when submitting your application. For specific details on applying to Emerson, please visit emerson.edu/ugapply

At A Glance

Founded: 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson

Degrees: BA, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, MS

Student Body: 4,147 undergraduate students, 1,729 graduate students

Admission: Competitive; approximately 15,300 applications received each year for a fall class of about 900 students

Student-Faculty Ratio: 13:1

Expenses 2024–2025: Tuition: $56,032; room and board: $21,420

Application Deadlines: Early Action: November 1; Regular Decision: January 14

Athletics: 14 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s teams 

An Inside Look