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Emerson College: Emerson College, Boston MA
Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Emerson College

  • LocationBoston, MA
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,670 students
Official website

Emerson College is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Archdiocese of Boston's college campus ministry page lists Emerson College among the colleges with an active campus ministry program. Emerson's own pages describe an interfaith Center for Spiritual Life; no Catholic center, Mass schedule, named chaplain, or Catholic student group was foundavailable for this record.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Emerson College, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miSt. James Church: 0.2 mi1St. Anthony Shrine: 0.4 mi2Saint Josephs Catholic Church: 0.8 mi3Cathedral of the Holy Cross: 0.8 mi4Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel: 0.9 mi5Saint Francis Chapel: 1.0 mi6Emerson College (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. St. James Church — 0.2 mi · 125 Harrison Avenue, Boston
  2. St. Anthony Shrine — 0.4 mi · 100 Arch Street, Boston
  3. Saint Josephs Catholic Church — 0.8 mi · 68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way, Boston
  4. Cathedral of the Holy Cross — 0.8 mi · 1400 Washington Street, Boston
  5. Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel — 0.9 mi · 51 Seaport Boulevard, Boston
  6. Saint Francis Chapel — 1.0 mi · 800 Boylston Street, Boston

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (Listed by the archdiocese as a college with an active campus ministry program.)
    Sources (1)
    1. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Bostonbostoncatholic.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The following are colleges and universities within the Archdiocese that have active campus ministry programs: Babson College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bridgewater State University Emerson College”
      The Archdiocese of Boston lists Emerson College among the colleges with an active campus ministry program.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The Archdiocese of Boston lists Emerson College among the colleges with an active campus ministry program.
    Sources (1)
    1. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Bostonbostoncatholic.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The following are colleges and universities within the Archdiocese that have active campus ministry programs: Babson College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bridgewater State University Emerson College”
      The Archdiocese of Boston lists Emerson College among the colleges with an active campus ministry program.
  • The college's Center for Spiritual Life offers prayer, retreats, and access to chaplains for students of all faiths.
    Sources (1)
    1. Centers & Initiatives | Emerson Collegeemerson.edu/centers-initiatives · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The Center for Spiritual Life offers an inclusive environment where students of all faiths, spiritual traditions, and backgrounds can find support, resources, and opportunities for personal growth.”
      Emerson's Center for Spiritual Life is an interfaith office open to students of all faiths.
      “You can participate in meditation and prayer, attend retreats and community gatherings, connect with chaplains and student leaders, or simply find a quiet space for reflection.”
      The Center for Spiritual Life offers prayer, retreats, and access to chaplains.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (1)
  1. College Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Bostonbostoncatholic.org/college-campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The following are colleges and universities within the Archdiocese that have active campus ministry programs: Babson College Bentley University Boston College Boston University Bridgewater State University Emerson College”
    The Archdiocese of Boston lists Emerson College among the colleges with an active campus ministry program.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
83 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.77%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.87%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,358 · ACT 30.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.14 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$13,023

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
4,171
Total students5,670
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$49,180
Cost of attendance (per year)$80,399
Median federal debt at graduation$23,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
77%
First-year retention87%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$62,832
Admission rate51%
Students receiving Pell grants16%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1358
SAT reading & writing660–720
SAT math610–700
ACT composite29–32
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 53 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Boston

The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Emerson College a Catholic college?
No. Emerson College is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Office for Campus Ministry, Archdiocese of Boston.

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