Campus Life
Find your friends in student orgs, residence halls, and dining areas.
Study. Explore. Create.
Campus life at Emerson is a one-of-a-kind experience. You’ll build your skills and explore your interests in our unique on-campus spaces, as you meet the friends and connections you’ll have for life.
Ready to join the Emerson community?
Congratulations on being selected for Emerson’s incoming class––we can’t wait to help you build your future as you experience all Emerson has to offer.
There’s no place like home.
Campus life is the heart of your life as an Emersonian. As you tackle your studies and projects, pursue your favorite extracurriculars, and unwind after-hours with friends, this is where it all happens. Emerson’s campus in downtown Boston offers all you need to enjoy your experience as a student, against the dynamic backdrop of a bustling urban environment.
A Day in the Life
As an Emerson student, you might start your morning off by grabbing a coffee from the Lion’s Den and taking a stroll through Boston Common before your first class. After class, you and a friend could hop on the Green Line and head to the Museum of Fine Arts to check out a new exhibit.
Grab a quick bite to eat in the Fenway neighborhood, then walk back to campus along the shopping mecca of Newbury Street to make it back in time for an EVVYs meeting or soccer practice. You and your classmates can visit the Dining Center for dinner before attending an ArtsEmerson performance at the Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre on campus.
Housing at Emerson
No matter which residence hall you live in, you’ll be home in the heart of Boston. Emerson’s intimate campus has five residence halls that offer a variety of living arrangements, including single, double, and triple off-hallway rooms and four- to eight-person suites. Each residence hall features spaces for studying, relaxing, cooking, and hanging out, with amenities such as lounges, laundry facilities, vending machines, and kitchen spaces. And of course, wireless internet everywhere you go!
Student Orgs: Finding Your Community
Student organizations are a great way to explore your passions and interests as you build your Emerson community.
Learn more about Emerson’s huge array of student orgs—and if we don’t yet have what you’re looking for, we encourage you to start your own!
Dining Options
What’s more important than getting enough sleep? Food! Don’t worry––at Emerson, we have you covered.
You’ll have your pick of several on-campus dining options, with menus and options designed to suit various tastes and dietary preferences. Residential students have a meal plan that makes eating convenient and affordable. Our chefs and staff prepare excellent food from scratch with whole ingredients, which are often locally sourced. Many café options are customizable to meet your personal dietary goals.
On our Boston campus, you can choose among eating at the Dining Center, Lion’s Den, the Max Cafe, Paramount Cafe, or Backstage Cafe. You can also grab items to go as you head to a study group or rehearsal.
In addition to all Emerson offers, Boston and the surrounding areas have a fantastic, diverse, world-class food scene. Emerson conveniently partners with dozens of restaurants close to campus that welcome our student community and accept Emerson College Cash (ECCash). From sandwich and burrito shops to pizza joints and coffee spots, find whatever you crave just steps away.
Omelettes to Order
Fluffy egg omelettes made to your liking; selected toppings include cheese, chopped onions, mushrooms, peppers … and more cheese.
Cereal & Fresh Fruit
Unlimited cereal and milk options, including non-dairy substitutes. Apples, oranges, bananas, and other fresh bites.
Pizza (Cheese, Pepperoni)
Grab a slice of your favorite pie, served hot and fresh. Gooey cheese, spicy pepperoni, and/or various specialty slices available daily. (Hawaiian, anyone?)
Loaded Salad Bar (All the Fixin’s)
Crisp greens—romaine, spring greens, red cabbage—garnished with crunchy toppings and tasty dressings make it easy to get your veggies for the day.
Stews & Curries
We’re no stranger to hearty cuisine; indeed, we’re familiar with favorites like New Orleans jambalaya, Indian chickpea curry, or Moroccan tagine.
Build-Your-Own Burger
Get a classic burger made your way before heading out to a student org meeting in the afternoon.
Baked Goods
We take dessert seriously at Emerson—our bar of brownies, cakes, cookies, and pastries will keep your sweet tooth satisfied.
Drinks & Refreshments
Stay hydrated with glasses of our ice-cold infused waters (cucumber, lemon, hibiscus), or get your fizz fix from our soda stations.
Fitness + Athletics
Staying healthy through physical movement is a great way to ensure your Emerson experience is all it can be. That’s why Emerson opened a brand-new Fitness Center as of 2024, centrally located in our Piano Row building and residence hall. The 13,000-square-foot, two-level facility is filled with brand-new, state-of-the-art equipment and modern spaces, including:
- Cardio and strength training machines, such as Life Fitness Aspire treadmills, Hammer Strength HD Airbikes, cable stations, and dumbbell areas
- Studio space for yoga, Pilates, and indoor cycling
- Gender-neutral and individual men’s/women’s locker rooms, with full showers and restrooms
With additional, expansive facilities such as the Brown-Plofker Gym and athletics spaces for our Emerson Lion athletes, Emerson has all you need to get moving.
membership fee
Hammer Strength Half-Racks
life fitness aspire treadmills
Wellness Goes a Long Way
With 13,000 square feet of space, you’ll have plenty of room for getting your steps in at our shiny-and-new Fitness Center!