Emerson College
Emerson College is a private, non-profit educational institution founded in 1880 in Boston, specializing in undergraduate and graduate programs in arts, communication, journalism, and performing arts, with campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands serving a 58,000+ alumni network across 115+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1880
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Emerson College does
Emerson College is a private, non-profit educational institution founded in 1880 in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in undergraduate and graduate education in arts, communication, performing arts, journalism, and media studies. It operates three physical campuses: the Boston headquarters at 120 Boylston Street in the Theatre District (across from Boston Common); a 107,000 sq-ft West Coast campus at 5960 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles (housing up to 217 students with classrooms, screening rooms, performance studios, and residence halls); and the Kasteel Well international campus at Kasteellaan 20, the Netherlands, supporting study-abroad and around-the-world programs. The college maintains a robust ecosystem of student- and professionally-run media assets, including award-winning 88.9 FM radio station WERS (serving New England), the Ploughshares literary magazine (based at Emerson since 1989), the EVVY Awards (the largest student-run awards show in the United States), Expression Magazine (alumni magazine), and the Emerson College Polling operation (with 25 years of nationally recognized public-opinion surveying).
The institution's revenue model is diversified across multiple tuition streams — undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Professional Studies and certificate offerings (some available online via open enrollment), Emerson Los Angeles semester and low-residency programs, and internships — supplemented by rental income from campus facilities (LA screening rooms, conference centers, and outdoor terraces used for external events) and philanthropic contributions through the Office of Institutional Advancement. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via Common App integration, on-campus visits, information sessions, virtual tours, and regional recruitment across New England, New York, Southern California, Washington DC, and Atlanta; targeting working adults and continuing-education learners through open-enrollment online certificates.
Emerson is governed by a Board of Trustees under chair Doug Herzog (effective June 2026), with day-to-day academic leadership including Jan Roberts-Breslin (Dean, Graduate and Professional Studies, and Interim Dean, School of the Arts) and Kenneth Rogers (Dean, Emerson Los Angeles). The college's strategic plan 'Extraordinary Emerson 2030' guides operations. In 2020 Emerson absorbed Marlboro College, establishing the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Study, and acquired the Marlboro College Archives. Emerson College's institutional scale includes 14 NCAA Division III Emerson Lions teams, 200+ student-athletes, and a 58,000+ alumni network across 150+ industries and 115+ countries.
Emerson College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Emerson College
- Legal name
- Emerson College
- Website
- https://emerson.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1880
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Emerson College is a private, non-profit educational institution founded in 1880 in Boston, specializing in undergraduate and graduate programs in arts, communication, journalism, and performing arts, with campuses in Boston, Los Angeles, and the Netherlands serving a 58,000+ alumni network across 115+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Emerson College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities (EDAHABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts-Integrated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAO), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
Keywords
Where Emerson College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Emerson College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition revenue from undergraduate degree programs, with financial aid available to offset costs for qualifying students
- Graduate Tuition: Tuition revenue from graduate degree programs across various disciplines including writing, film, communication, and performing arts
- Professional Studies Programs: Certificate and non-credit programs providing revenue from professional development and continuing education courses
- Emerson Los Angeles Programs: Revenue from LA-based undergraduate semester programs, summer programs, and graduate low-residency programs including internship opportunities
- Campus Facilities and Event Rentals: Rental income from Emerson Los Angeles facilities including screening rooms, conference centers, outdoor terraces, and performance studios for external events
- Institutional Advancement/Development: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, parents, and friends through the Office of Institutional Advancement
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate degree programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Emerson College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Emerson College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs focused on arts, communication, performing arts, journalism, media studies, and writing. The college operates three campuses (Boston, Los Angeles, and Kasteel Well in the Netherlands) and delivers experiential learning through internships, professional studies, certificate programs, and student-run media such as WERS-FM radio and Ploughshares literary magazine.
Product overview
Emerson College is an educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and communication disciplines. The institution operates a main campus in Boston, a West Coast campus in Los Angeles, and an international campus in The Netherlands (Kasteel Well). Their educational portfolio includes traditional degree programs, professional studies, certificate programs, and experiential learning opportunities including internships. The institution also maintains campus media including WERS-FM radio station, Ploughshares literary magazine, and various student publications and productions. As a college rather than a software company, Emerson does not offer a structured product platform or modular software offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs in arts, communication, performing arts, journalism, and media studies with embedded experiential learning and internship opportunities, designed for high school graduates and transfer students.
- Graduate Degree Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 58,000+ alumni network
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Emerson College
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Emerson College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Emerson College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Marlboro CollegeflagshipHistoric alliance between Emerson College and Marlboro College on July 23, 2020, carrying on Marlboro's legacy of rigorous, independent scholarship while strengthening Emerson's commitment to liberal arts. The Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Study was established to honor Marlboro's tradition of self-directed study. Students, faculty, and alumni transitioned to Emerson in fall 2020.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Emerson College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- University of Southern California (USC): Major research university in Los Angeles with the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Cinematic Arts, offering strong Hollywood-tied programs that compete directly with Emerson Los Angeles for entertainment industry talent.
- Boston University: Larger private research university in Boston with a College of Communication offering journalism, film, and media programs that directly overlap Emerson's core offerings, while also providing broader STEM and business programs that Emerson lacks.
- Northeastern University: Boston-based research university with a College of Arts, Media and Design that competes directly for creative students; differentiated by co-op program but overlapping on communication, journalism, and film degrees.
- New York University (NYU Tisch): Private university with Tisch School of the Arts in NYC offering undergraduate and graduate programs in film, theatre, and media that compete for the same arts-focused student segment as Emerson.
Direct peers
- Loyola Marymount University (LMU): Jesuit private university in Los Angeles with a School of Film and Television and strong communication programs; directly comparable to Emerson LA in terms of LA footprint, creative-program focus, and student profile.
- Chapman University: Private California university with Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and strong theater programs; comparable private, arts-communication-focused institution competing for West Coast creative talent.
- Bennington College: Small private liberal arts college in Vermont with strong arts, writing, and performing arts programs; comparable private nonprofit creative-focused college with a similar enrollment scale and residential arts emphasis.
- Quinnipiac University: Private university with a School of Communications offering journalism, film, and media production programs, comparable in scale and private-residential model, targeting similar Northeast creative students.
- Suffolk University: Private university in downtown Boston with strong communication, journalism, and theater programs, comparable in size and urban-residential model to Emerson and competing for the same pool of Boston-area creative students.
Emerging players
- American Film Institute (AFI): Conservatory-style institution in Los Angeles focused exclusively on graduate-level film and television training; competes for the same Hollywood-adjacent graduate cohort Emerson LA serves in low-residency MFA programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Emerson College social profiles
Digital presenceEmerson College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Emerson College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Emerson College subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Emerson College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Emerson College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Emerson College
What does Emerson College do?
Emerson College is a private, non-profit institution of higher education that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs focused on arts, communication, performing arts, journalism, media studies, and writing. The college operates three campuses (Boston, Los Angeles, and Kasteel Well in the Netherlands) and delivers experiential learning through internships, professional studies, certificate programs, and student-run media such as WERS-FM radio and Ploughshares literary magazine.
Is Emerson College a public or private company?
Emerson College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Emerson College founded?
Emerson College was founded in 1880. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Emerson College based?
Emerson College is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Emerson College make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are graduate Tuition, professional Studies Programs, emerson Los Angeles Programs, campus Facilities and Event Rentals and institutional Advancement/Development.
Who are Emerson College's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are University of Southern California (USC), Boston University, Northeastern University and New York University (NYU Tisch). Direct peers are Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Chapman University, Bennington College, Quinnipiac University and Suffolk University. American Film Institute (AFI) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Emerson College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Emerson College.
What industry is Emerson College in?
Emerson College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAG, Arts, Humanities & Creative Research Universities, with a secondary code of EDAHACAO, Arts-Integrated Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.