Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Letter: False assumptions

Letter: False assumptions

June 17, 2020

Christopher Stetson Wilson is the administrative associate to the chair of Emerson’s Journalism Department. Wilson is also an Emerson graduate student...

President M. Lee Pelton.

College plans to issue partial credit for room and board, not tuition

March 19, 2020

While Emerson will be issuing partial credit for room and board charges for the spring semester due to circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,...

When relationships inevitably did disintegrate pre-social media, they were more easily forgettable. Now, even if someone is no longer in my life, they are still just a few clicks away.

Strapped for Cash: The financial aid system is broken

March 11, 2020

Every year when October rolls around, I dread filling out the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA.  It...

Juliet Norman - Ally Rzesa / Beacon Staff

Strapped for Cash: Sacrificing a college experience to pay my tuition

November 20, 2019

Last week, my digital journalism professor stopped me after class and asked to talk to me.  I instantly was seized with worry—was I in trouble? Had...

Debunking common misconceptions around the Emerson-Marlboro merger

Debunking common misconceptions around the Emerson-Marlboro merger

November 14, 2019

Emerson College did not purchase Marlboro College  The Vermont school donated its $30 million endowment and real estate, valued at more than $10 million,...

SGA officials grapple with tuition costs before trustees meeting

SGA officials grapple with tuition costs before trustees meeting

October 16, 2019

Student Government Association members clashed on Tuesday over rising tuition costs and the college’s ongoing expansion at their weekly joint session...

Respect college employees with improved communication

Respect college employees with improved communication

October 2, 2019

Over the summer, the college switched their employment software from their old system, People Admin, to a new software called Workday. In the process of...

Beacon Podcast: College raises undergraduate tuition by 4 percent

Beacon Podcast: College raises undergraduate tuition by 4 percent

April 5, 2019

On March 21, the college announced a 4 percent increase to the undergraduate tuition for returning students. This increased the total cost of attendance...

Emerson’s cost of attendance increased from $19,303 per year in 1990 to $67,832 in 2019. Cullen Granzen / Berkeley Staff

Returning students to see 4 percent tuition hike

March 28, 2019

The college does not plan to end annual tuition increases, President M. Lee Pelton said in an interview. Emerson follows the national trend of rising higher...

Editorial: College becomes increasingly inaccessible to students

Editorial: College becomes increasingly inaccessible to students

March 28, 2019

At issue: College announces 4 percent tuition increase Our take: Prioritize students' financial security over investments A college-wide email from...

Beacon Archives

Beacon Breakdown: How tuition value compares at Emerson’s three campuses

February 10, 2019

Emerson students at the Boston, Los Angeles, and Kasteel Well campuses all pay the same tuition and room and board rates despite differences in semester length...

Residing in close proximity with a handful of students rarely makes for a problem-free living environment, but the frustration that builds up in these living situations hinders us from living a healthy life and forming positive relationships.  / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Op-ed: Merit-based aid helps the privileged, need-based aid helps all

December 6, 2018

Ian Mandt is the executive treasurer for the Student Government Association.  In order to pay for his daughter’s semester at Emerson Los Angeles,...

Senior Christopher Rogers plans to join the military after graduation to pay off student loans - Cullen Granzen / Beacon Staff

Students resort to military to pay off debt

September 20, 2018

Senior Christopher Rogers chose Emerson to create a career out of journalism. Now, with over $100,000 in student debt, Rogers will join the military after...

As members of an artistic community, we must all contribute to ensuring our spaces are accessible. Photo courtesy of Allison Hagan.

Weighing the costs of creativity

April 8, 2018

I wanted one thing when I graduated eighth grade—a digital single-lens reflex, or DSLR, camera. Both of my grandmothers planned to collaborate on...

The Emerson Los Angeles campus

Students express concerns over ELA costs

March 15, 2018

Taylor William Weston ’17 used Uber for his hour-long commute between his internship and the Emerson Los Angeles campus.   “I negotiated in my...

The truth of the matter is there is no simple way to find out what exactly students tuition goes toward.

Tuition talks are a two-way street

January 18, 2018

When student protesters marched across campus and into Faculty Assembly last fall, they called for more than just a few conciliatory remarks and an email...