Admit rate has ranged 11%–19% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Emory University is a selective, mid-sized research powerhouse in Atlanta, known for its rigorous academics, pre-professional bent (especially in business and health sciences), and a student body that balances Southern charm with global ambition. With a 90%+ graduation rate and a new tuition-free pledge for families earning under $200K, Emory offers elite outcomes without Ivy League pretension.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
7,298
In-state tuition
$64,280
Out-of-state tuition
$64,280
Location
Atlanta, GA
Majors Offered
80+
Acceptance Rate
10%
Student Organizations
80+
6-Year Graduation Rate
92%
Average Debt at Graduation
$24,562
Median Salary (6 Years After Graduation)
$74,980
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$80,137
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.5×
Median debt at graduation
$18,250
Graduation rate
91%
First-year retention
96%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
80%
Pell (lower-income) share
43%
First-generation share
16%
Endowment / student
$1,698,573
Financial health
2.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$83,177
Business Administration, Management and Operations$77,283
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$64,055
Mathematics$63,028
Applied Mathematics$63,005
Economics$62,632
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
22
Per 1,000 students
3.01
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
101
Summer high
86°F
Winter low
39°F
Annual rain
65.6"
Annual snow
0.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,193
Scholarly works
227,200
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.8%
Bottom → top quintile
50%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Emory University?
Emory University's acceptance rate is approximately 11% (Atlanta, GA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Emory University?
Admitted students at Emory University typically score 1470–1550 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Emory University cost?
At Emory University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,585 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Emory University?
Emory University enrolls approximately 7,298 undergraduate students.
Where is Emory University located?
Emory University is located in Atlanta, GA.
Admissions
Getting into Emory is a high-stakes game—only 10% of applicants are admitted, with middle-50% test scores hovering at 1480-1540 SAT or 32-35 ACT (median 1510 SAT/34 ACT). The university emphasizes academic GPA, recommendations, and extracurriculars as 'very important' factors, while maintaining a waitlist for borderline candidates. Notably, 43% of enrolled students submitted test scores in recent cycles, suggesting Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. flexibility isn't deterring high achievers. Admitted students typically have unweighted GPAs in the 3.9+ range, with Reddit anecdotes highlighting that even near-perfect stats don't guarantee admission (one user reported waitlisting with a 1560 SAT/35 ACT).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$57,318
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$53,108
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Emory’s academic portfolio is both broad and deep, with 80+ majors and 60+ minors, though students cluster in management science (17%), biology (9%), neuroscience (7%), and nursing (6%). The curriculum leans pre-professional—think business (via Goizueta BBA), pre-med, and public health—but humanities like English and political science hold their own. A 2.0 GPA minimum is required in majors/minors, and the university prohibits double degrees (only one undergraduate diploma allowed). Faculty are research-active but accessible, with Reddit users praising strengths in quantitative social sciences (QSS), chemistry, and neuroscience. The vibe is collaborative but intense: 'You’ll learn, grow, and be challenged in the best way possible' per Emory’s tagline.
Emory’s social scene is a study in balance: 91% of students report feeling 'extremely safe' on campus, but Atlanta’s nightlife and cultural scene (just 15 minutes from downtown) keep things from feeling cloistered. The university bills itself as 'vibrant, engaged, and deeply connected,' with students who 'push one another to think creatively' rather than compete cutthroat-style. Greek life exists but doesn’t dominate—Reddit users call it 'by no means a party school,' though there’s still fun to be had. Over 80 student organizations span from ethics-driven initiatives to Instagram-worthy 'food and fun' events. The administration leans into buzzwords like 'polycultural' and 'socially just,' but students seem to buy in, with Campus Life accounts showcasing compassion-driven programming.
Emory delivers on the ROI promise: 92% graduate within six years, and alumni earn $74,980 median salaries six years out—well above the national average. The First Destination Survey shows strong placement in jobs and grad schools (details unspecified), with $36,427 median earnings one year post-graduation. Debt at graduation averages $24,562, lower than many peers, thanks to robust aid. Notably, 90% of cohorts persist year-to-year, suggesting students find the grind worthwhile. The numbers paint a picture of a university where nearly everyone crosses the finish line—and lands firmly on their feet.
Emory’s sticker price is steep, but 52% of undergrads receive grants/scholarships, averaging $61,922. Starting in 2026, families earning ≤$200K will pay $0 in tuition—a game-changer for middle- and upper-middle-class students. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid is $27,986, with 41.62% of students getting aid packages averaging $67,329. The financial aid office uses a full needs-analysis (not just FAFSA) to determine awards, and their net price calculator helps families estimate costs upfront. For context, median post-grad salaries ($75K at six years) make the debt load ($24,562 average) manageable.
Emory occupies a sweet spot: elite but not elitist, pre-professional but intellectually curious, in a major city but with a cohesive campus. Its health sciences nexus (CDC and Emory Healthcare next door) and Goizueta BBA draw career-focused students, while the 90%+ graduation rate and tuition-free pledge for ≤$200K earners signal institutional confidence. Unlike hyper-competitive peers, Emory fosters collaboration—'students don’t compete but push one another,' per its marketing—and Atlanta’s cultural cachet adds real-world heft. For students who want Ivy-caliber outcomes without the ivory tower, Emory delivers.
Emory University logo · sourceDirections and Map | Emory University | Atlanta GA · sourceEmory Main Campus | Emory Continuing Education · sourceEmory Campus • About • Emory & Henry · source
