Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Boston, Massachusetts
80.6% Acceptance Rate
Emmanuel College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
80.6%Acceptance Rate
3.6Avg GPA
1263Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$63,864Annual Cost
$68,245Grad Salary
20.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
80.6%
Avg GPA
3.6
Avg SAT
1263
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1170–1330
ACT Middle 50%
26–31
Need-Based Aid
20.3% receive Pell
Emmanuel College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts institution in Boston known for its commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and professional preparation. With a supportive and engaged campus community, the college fosters critical inquiry, research, and leadership development. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education in a vibrant urban setting makes it a meaningful choice for students seeking to prepare for leadership.
Emmanuel College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Emmanuel College is inclusive by design. 80.6% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 80.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.15
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Emmanuel College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 1 for Emmanuel College (Early Action — other plans are listed below), with decisions typically out by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 85 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision I
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 1
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
February 15
Decision by: April 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (December 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Emmanuel College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Emmanuel College is 3.6. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.30 and 3.6? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.80–4.00.Emmanuel College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.20 – 3.39
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.19
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Emmanuel College is test-optional across all programs, including direct-entry Nursing.
- Nursing does not accept transfer students under any circumstances due to the program's sequential structure; direct first-year admission is the only path in.
- Massachusetts community college graduates with a 2.50+ GPA qualify for the Massachusetts Transfer Guarantee, which waives the essay and recommendation letter requirements.
- Emmanuel's Colleges of the Fenway membership allows cross-registration for up to two courses per semester at five partner Boston-area institutions starting the second semester of enrollment.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Emmanuel College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Emmanuel College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Emmanuel College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Emmanuel College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Emmanuel College Without SAT or ACT?
Emmanuel College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Emmanuel College Average SAT Score: 1263
Admitted students at Emmanuel College average a 1263 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1263 — Slightly Competitive
A 1263 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1330 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Emmanuel College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1170? A retake is worth it at Emmanuel College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 615 | 580 | 650 |
| SAT Reading | 635 | 590 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1263 | 1170 | 1330 |
A score under 1170 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1330+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Emmanuel College with a 1350 SAT?
At 1350, your SAT is squarely in Emmanuel College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Emmanuel College ACT Requirements
Emmanuel College's admitted students average an ACT of 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
An average of 29 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 25 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 26 | 31 |
Can I get into Emmanuel College with a 31 ACT?
At 31, you're in the top quarter of Emmanuel College's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Emmanuel College weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Emmanuel College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Emmanuel College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Apply to direct-entry Nursing knowing there's no transfer door later
Emmanuel explicitly does not accept transfer students into its Nursing program due to the program's sequential structure - if Nursing is your goal, you must be admitted directly as a first-year applicant. Apply by Emmanuel's Early Action Two deadline (December 15) specifically for Nursing consideration, since the college strongly encourages this earlier timeline for the program even though its general Regular Decision deadline is later.
Name the Merck Research Laboratories connection specifically if you're pre-med or a science major
Emmanuel has an unusual on-site research relationship with Merck Research Laboratories, giving science students access to pharmaceutical industry research experience without leaving campus - a structural feature most small liberal arts colleges simply don't have. If you're applying as a biology, chemistry, or pre-med student, reference this specific opportunity (and the adjacent Longwood Medical Area teaching hospitals) in your essay rather than generic "great science facilities" language.
Use the Colleges of the Fenway cross-registration if Emmanuel doesn't offer your niche interest
Emmanuel participates in the Colleges of the Fenway consortium, letting students take up to two courses per semester at partner institutions (including MassArt, Wentworth, MCPHS, Simmons, and Wheelock) starting their second semester. If a minor or elective interest isn't in Emmanuel's own catalog, plan your schedule around this cross-registration option from your first year rather than assuming you're limited to Emmanuel's course list alone.
If you're a Massachusetts community college transfer, check the Guarantee Program before submitting anything else
Massachusetts community college graduates with a 2.50 GPA or higher qualify for the Massachusetts Transfer Guarantee, which secures admission to Emmanuel without requiring an essay or letter of recommendation - a meaningfully lighter application than the standard transfer process. If you hold or are completing an associate degree at a Massachusetts public community college, apply through this specific guarantee track rather than Emmanuel's general transfer application.
Expert Insight:
A specific and irreversible mistake is enrolling elsewhere as a first-year with the intention of transferring into Emmanuel's Nursing program later - because Emmanuel does not accept nursing transfer students at all due to the program's sequencing, that door is permanently closed once you've started college anywhere else, unlike most nursing programs that at least offer LPN-bridge or advanced-standing transfer pathways.
Emmanuel College Profile
Full Name
Emmanuel College
City
Boston
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
2115
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Emmanuel College Degree Worth It?
Whether Emmanuel College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $75,200, and graduates see a 2.89% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Emmanuel College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $63,864/year at Emmanuel College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Emmanuel College, 20.3% receive a Pell Grant and 61.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Emmanuel College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Emmanuel College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Emmanuel College graduates report a median income of $68,245, about 68% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Emmanuel College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1213 | 26 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | 1223 | 26 |
| Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA | 1230 | 27 |
| Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 1237 | 28 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Emmanuel College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Emmanuel College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, 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 the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at Emmanuel College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Emmanuel College Admissions
Emmanuel College graduates earn a moderate median salary of $68,245/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Emmanuel College runs high, at roughly $63,864+/year, so financial aid planning matters.
20.3% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. Emmanuel College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Emmanuel College's acceptance rate is 80.6%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Emmanuel College students is 3.6, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.3 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Emmanuel College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.2 or below makes admission tougher at Emmanuel College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Emmanuel College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1263, and within the 1170–1330 range, keeps you competitive.
Emmanuel College's deadline is November 1 (Early Action), with decisions out by December 15.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before December 1, 2026. That's Emmanuel College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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