Emerson College (Emerson) Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

Emerson College Acceptance Rate

Emerson College is a well-known institution. It has a selective admission process. The acceptance rate of Emerson College is 47.5%. This means that 48 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.

Admissions Guidelines

• Selective Enrollment: Applicants need a solid GPA and proof of academic growth.
• Holistic Balance: Strong recommendations and community involvement are highly valued.

Selectivity at a Glance

Selective

Selectivity scale: Selective — 47.5% acceptance rate

Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.

Recommended Academic Profile

Candidate GPA Range

Admission Category

Strategic Requirement

3.73 – 4.00

Target Match

Maintain Rigor & High Testing

3.53 – 3.72

Competitive Reach

Focus on Score Compensation

Below 3.28

Secondary Reach

Requires Contextual Support

Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.

Emerson GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Emerson is 3.73. Emerson is highly selective.

Mostly A's with a few B's will keep you competitive. Taking AP/IB courses related to your field will improve your chances.

If your GPA is between 3.43 and 3.73, a strong SAT or ACT score is recommended.

Check Your Admission Chances at Emerson

Emerson College (Emerson) Test Requirements

In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.

Can I Get Into Emerson Without SAT or ACT?

Emerson College Average SAT Score: 1359

The average SAT score of the admitted students at Emerson College is 1359 on the 1600 SAT scale.

SAT Competitiveness

SAT 1359 — Competitive

This score makes it Competitive for SAT scores. You need to do well to score 1359 on the SAT.

If your score is below 1250, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Emerson. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.

SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

It means that if you have scored less than 1250 then you are below most of the admitted students at Emerson and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1410 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.

View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1350

Can I get into Emerson College (Emerson) with a 1400 SAT?

With a 1400 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Emerson College (Emerson) are good but the admission staff at Emerson tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

Emerson College (Emerson) ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Emerson is 32.

ACT Competitiveness

ACT 32 — Very Competitive

This score makes Emerson College very Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do very well to score 32 on the ACT.

ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Can I get into Emerson College with a 33 ACT?

A 33 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at Emerson College — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at Emerson College use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.

Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.

One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that Emerson College — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether Emerson College uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.

Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 33 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 32

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Emerson

Emerson Profile

Is a Emerson Degree Worth It?

Compare Similar Colleges

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Emerson College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville, AL	1321	28
Auburn University	Auburn, AL	1318	28
Hendrix College	Conway, AR	1336	29
University of San Francisco	San Francisco, CA	1313	29
University of Denver	Denver, CO	1344	31
University of Connecticut	Storrs, CT	1338	31
Fairfield University	Fairfield, CT	1323	31
Florida State University	Tallahassee, FL	1323	29
Lake Forest College	Lake Forest, IL	1309	30
Centre College	Danville, KY	1345	29

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Emerson College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Chapman University	Orange, CA	1353	30
Pepperdine University	Malibu, CA	1367	29
Westmont College	Santa Barbara, CA	1367	32
University of Colorado Boulder	Boulder, CO	1353	31
United States Air Force Academy	USAF Academy, CO	1362	30

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Emerson College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Santa Clara University	Santa Clara, CA	1417	32
Colorado School of Mines	Golden, CO	1403	31
Connecticut College	New London, CT	1412	32
Trinity College	Hartford, CT	1396	32
American University	Washington, DC	1392	31

Degree Programs at Emerson

Bachelor Degree Programs

Masters Degree Programs

Full list of all degree programs offered by Emerson College →

Frequently Asked Questions About Emerson Admissions