About three-fourths of our families receive some form of assistance. We encourage you to apply for financial aid in an effort to consider the affordability of an Emerson College education. Many resources are available, including merit scholarships awarded by the Office of Admission; and need-based grants, student employment, and student loans overseen by the Office of Financial Aid.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance goes beyond the packages offered to families—it is developing a partnership of guidance and support that will last throughout your time at Emerson.

From clear and easy guidelines to apply for aid, helping families understand the true cost of college, coaching on how to budget, and enhancing financial literacy, the Office of Financial Aid is here to help you succeed at Emerson and serves as a vital resource for students and families.

Merit Scholarships

Upon acceptance, students will automatically be considered for one of our merit scholarships, which vary in value up to full tuition coverage.

Merit Scholarships Available to All Undergraduate Applicants (No additional applications or essays are required to be considered for these scholarships.)

Aspire Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to incoming students who are at the top of Emerson’s applicant pool and who have demonstrated a high level of academic distinction as well as qualities such as leadership and a community service-focus. The amount of the Aspire Scholarship ranges between $5,000 - $22,500 per semester of full time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Trailblazer Scholarship

This scholarship is given to incoming students who have set themselves apart within Emerson's applicant pool through demonstrated distinctive academic success as well as qualities such as leadership, creativity, community engagement, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $7,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Visionary Scholarship

This scholarship is given to incoming students who have demonstrated significant academic success within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $5,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Spotlight Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated academic success within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. The Spotlight scholarship is $3,000 per semester of full- time enrollment. Recipients are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Alliance Scholarship

This scholarship is given to incoming students who are enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major and who have demonstrated academic success within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $5,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Pioneer Scholarship

This scholarship is given to incoming students who have demonstrated strong academic success within their school communities as well as compelling qualities such as leadership, community engagement, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Expression Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated significant potential for success, at Emerson, both academically and within the community through leadership, community engagement and creative endeavors. Students are awarded $2,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Creative Circle Scholarship

This prestigious scholarship is awarded to applicants accepted into the Emerson Circle of Creative Scholars (ECCS), who have demonstrated significant academic success within their school communities and shown leadership, commitment to community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. This scholarship covers the full cost of attendance at Emerson.

The mission of ECCS is to help students navigate the academic, social, and career development landscape at Emerson as they achieve their personal goals. We will provide students with a holistic, enriching Emerson experience through programmatic support focused on the eight dimensions of wellness: intellectual/academic, financial, occupational, emotional, environmental, physical/health, social, and spiritual. By focusing on these dimensions, Emerson will be ensuring that students will enhance and expand their Emerson experience while demonstrating knowledge and awareness of the tools needed to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Students are required to enroll full-time, participate in ECCS programming and maintain a 3.0 GPA. This award is renewable for up to eight semesters for First-Year students and up to five semesters for Transfer students.

Merit Scholarship Opportunities for First-Year Applicants Only

Trustees Scholarship

This prestigious scholarship is given to applicants accepted into the Honors Program. Students are awarded $15,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. Students are required to maintain a 3.3 GPA (3.0 GPA in the Honors curriculum). A separate Honors Program essay must be submitted with your admission application in order to be considered for this scholarship.

Musical Theatre Scholarship

The Musical Theatre Scholarship covers the full cost of attendance at Emerson. It is offered to an incoming first-year Musical Theatre student who has demonstrated outstanding ability in the performing arts along with evidence of strong academic and leadership potential. The scholarship is provided for up to 4 years.

Merit Scholarship Opportunities for First-Year Global BFA Applicants Only (No additional applications or essays are required to be considered for these scholarships

Global BFA Pioneer Scholarship

This scholarship is given to incoming students who have demonstrated strong academic success within their school communities as well as compelling qualities such as leadership, community engagement and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Global BFA Expression Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated significant potential for success, at Emerson, both academically and within the community through leadership, community engagement and creative endeavors. Students are awarded $2,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Global BFA Trailblazer Scholarship

This scholarship is given to incoming students who have set themselves apart within Emerson's applicant pool through demonstrated distinctive academic success as well as qualities such as leadership, creativity, community engagement, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. Students are awarded $7,500 per semester of full-time enrollment. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Merit Scholarship Opportunities for Transfer Applicants Only (No additional applications or essays are required to be considered for these scholarships)

Miami Dade College Scholarship

This scholarship is eligible for students transferring from Miami Dade College who earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7 prior to matriculation at Emerson College. This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition.

The Miami Dade College scholarship is limited to fall term enrollment and students must have a complete transfer application by March 15. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.

Community College Network Scholarship

This scholarship is for students completing an associate’s degree from a College that has a current articulation agreement with Emerson College and has earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. The amount of the Community College Network Scholarship is $30,000 annually.

This scholarship is limited to fall term enrollment and students must have a complete transfer application by March 15. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.

Next Step Emerson Scholarship

This scholarship is students who earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 by the time they matriculate at Emerson. The amount of the Next Step Emerson Scholarship is $30,000 annually.

This scholarship is limited to fall term enrollment and students must have a complete transfer application by March 15. Recipients are required to enroll and maintain full time status and must maintain a 3.0 GPA for automatic renewal annually.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Emerson offers a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship for eligible students. Transfer students are awarded $4,000 per semester of full-time enrollment. To receive this scholarship, students must earn an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 from a community college and be a Phi Theta Kappa member in good standing. Eligible students must plan to apply for fall term enrollment by March 15. While enrolled at Emerson, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to continue to receive this scholarship.

Private Scholarships

The Office of Financial Aid has also gathered a list of private scholarship opportunities for your convenience.

Student Employment

Many in the Emerson community use our numerous student employment opportunities to help fund their education.