Emerson College

In 2021, Emerson's tuition was $54,400 a year.

Tuition increased 4.04% in 2023–from $52,288 the prior year. On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams sound impossible, remember, the advertized cost of tuition doesn't always give you enough information to determine the actual cost of attending any given college. Many students pay a lot less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. Plus, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college more manageable until you're done with college.

Emerson College meets 56% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Emerson College is around $35,079 a year.

Does Emerson College Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Emerson College is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for students from Massachusetts as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing an insitution where you are eligible for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the overall cost of college. Be sure to verify your state's eligibility criteria for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria too, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Emerson College International Student Tuition

Emerson College has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Emerson College:

•On-campus jobs •Emerson College-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.

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Emerson College Living Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Emerson College.

House and Food Costs at Emerson College

Room and board at Emerson College is $20,810 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Emerson College?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools offer resources for students who may struggle to participate because of cost can find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at Emerson College

The cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in an urban area may be expensive, but there may be more buses, trains or affordable flights to actually get to school. The Emerson College campus is in a city in Massachusetts, not far from Boston.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, don’t forget to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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Total Tuition and Expenses at Emerson College

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Emerson College.

Total Cost of Emerson College

What will the cost of attending Emerson College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$54,400
Room and Board	$20,810

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$76,202
Off-Campus	$55,392

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at Emerson College

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The majority of Emerson College undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 2,087 of the 3,708 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Emerson College meets 56% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $35,079 a year.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$21,742
State Loans	$5,409
Private Loans	$0

Most Common Loans for Emerson College Students
Federal Loans	56%
State loans	2%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Emerson College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Emerson College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Emerson College awarded 2,001 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $56.1 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $16.33 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Emerson College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Emerson College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Emerson College was $35,079 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Emerson College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$41,123
Off-Campus	$20,313

What will attending Emerson College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Emerson College's net cost calculator on their website.

Emerson College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Emerson College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Emerson College Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Emerson College's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Emerson College's endowment was valued at $171.6 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million.

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Learn More About Emerson College

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