Emory University 2025 Admission Statistics

Emory University Admission Guide — Class of 2030 (Applying 2025‑26)

“We draw students who ask bold questions and then walk across our Atlanta campus to find the answers in a lab, an archive, or the CDC next door.” — Emory admission director, April 2025

Why read this?

You’re a high‑school junior who will hit submit in the 2025‑26 cycle.
Emory’s 2024‑25 Common Data Set just dropped and gives the clearest snapshot yet of acceptance odds, test ranges, and financial aid. Below is a 1 700‑word, narrative cheat‑sheet—no tables, no fluff—so you can benchmark your profile, time every deadline, and shape an application that feels unmistakably Emory.

The Admission Landscape — Numbers in Plain English

• 34 614 applications rolled in for the Class of 2029; 3 562 offers went out—an overall admit rate of ≈ 10 %.
• Early Decision advantage. ED applicants filed 4 193 applications and 974 were admitted—roughly 23 % versus ~8 % in Regular Decision.
• Yield power. About 1 438 freshmen enrolled, producing a healthy 40 % yield that lets Emory shape the class precisely.
• Wait‑list reality. Ten thousand‑plus hopefuls slide onto the list most years; fewer than five percent ultimately receive an offer—treat WL as a long shot.
• Persistence. First‑year retention sits at 96 % and the six‑year graduation rate hovers around 91 %—evidence that students thrive once they arrive.

Academic Profile of the 2024‑25 Admitted Class

• Testing optional—but high if submitted. Forty‑three percent of enrollees sent SAT scores, with a middle band of 1480‑1540. Twenty percent sent ACT scores, landing 32‑35. If you’re not in that range, skip testing and lean on GPA and rigor.
• GPA expectations. The average unweighted GPA for reporting admits was 3.84. Over 80 % ranked in the top quartile of their class.
• Course rigor matters most. Emory flags curriculum strength, GPA, class rank, essays, and recommendations as very important. Load senior year with AP or IB in core subjects plus one elective that shows intellectual stretch (e.g., AP Psychology or AP Statistics).
• Personal context counts. First‑generation status, talent, geographic diversity, and demonstrated interest sit in the “important” tier—use them.

What Emory Values (and How to Show It)

• Impact in community health & service. Whether you founded a free‑clinic tutoring program or coded an app to track local air quality, spotlight measurable outcomes—dollars raised, users reached, policies changed.
• Research hunger. Labs affiliated with the CDC, Rollins School of Public Health, and Emory Healthcare entice students who already keep a notebook of hypotheses. Cite any science fair, publication, or data project.
• Global perspective. Emory recruits heavily from abroad and values language study, Model UN leadership, or independent travel that changed how you see systems.
• Intellectual curiosity over résumé padding. Essays that dissect a failure, debate an ethical gray area, or connect two unrelated disciplines (say, music theory and genomics) stand out.
• Fit for Atlanta. Mention how you’ll plug into the city’s civil‑rights history, Fortune 500 internships, or its indie‑music scene—admissions loves applicants who see the campus and city as one ecosystem.

The Money Question

• Sticker price for 2025‑26 will land near $89 300 (tuition $67 080, fees $976, standard housing & meal plan $21 244).
• Need‑blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Emory meets 100 % of demonstrated need and does so with an average first‑year grant package around $63 000—loans average under $3 000.
• Merit scholarships are real but scarce. Roughly 80 first‑years earn full‑tuition Dean’s, Woodruff, or Goizueta scholarships. Those applications ride on your Common App plus an invite‑only finalist weekend.
• International aid is need‑aware. Funding exists, but competition is intense; file early and articulate financial need clearly.
• Aid deadlines. Submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA by February  15,  2026 for priority packaging; absolute final deadline is March  1.
• Financial‑fit test. Run Emory’s Net Price Calculator before choosing Early Decision; deposits are binding and the school rarely renegotiates merit awards.

Anticipated Timeline for Class of 2030

Spring 2025

• Lock in AP Calc (BC if offered), AP Bio/Chem or IB HL science, and a rigorous humanities elective.
• Decide on August SAT/ACT only if you can realistically hit 1500+/34+.

Summer 2025

• Draft your Common App personal statement and the two Emory short‑answer prompts (community impact + academic curiosity).
• Deepen one signature project—be it research, entrepreneurship, or service—and document outcomes.

Early Fall 2025

• Visit Atlanta or join a virtual Eagle Chat; register your interest.
• November  1  2025 — Early Decision I application deadline (CSS/FAFSA recommended if applying for aid).

Winter 2026

• January  1  2026 — ED II and Regular Decision deadline.
• Last chance to submit test scores (must arrive by January  15).

Spring 2026

• Decisions release April  1  2026 for RD; compare aid offers.
• Enrollment deposit and housing fee due May  1  2026.

Life on the Hill

• 8 : 1 student‑faculty ratio; half of classes enroll fewer than 20 students.
• Residential first year. All freshmen live on campus—traditions like Dooley’s Week and Songfest bond halls fast.
• Global mix. Students hail from all 50 states and over 100 nations; about 15 % hold foreign passports.
• Dual‑campus vibe. First‑years start in either Oxford College (quieter, liberal‑arts feel 38 miles east) or the main Atlanta campus; both lead to the same Emory degree and junior‑year major entry.
• Atlanta perks. CDC internships, Coca‑Cola and Delta HQs, film studios, civil‑rights archives, plus a food scene that ranges from Buford Highway to Ponce City Market.

How to Decide If Emory Fits

1. Do you crave discussion‑based classes backed by major research horsepower?
2. Will a global, service‑minded community sharpen your goals?
3. Could you leverage Atlanta—health hub, corporate capital, and cultural powerhouse—as a living lab?
4. Is need‑based aid your lifeline? Emory’s full‑need policy can slash the sticker dramatically.

If at least three answers are “yes,” Emory deserves serious ED or RD consideration.

Quick‑Hit Checklist

• [ ] GPA 3.8+ with maxed‑out rigor.
• [ ] SAT ≥ 1500 or ACT ≥ 34—optional unless it helps.
• [ ] Complete two distinct Emory short‑answers by September.
• [ ] Log at least one form of demonstrated interest (visit, info session, Eagle Chat).
• [ ] Submit CSS Profile + FAFSA by Feb 15 2026.
• [ ] If shooting for merit, polish résumé for Woodruff Scholars review.
• [ ] Deposit by May 1 2026 and celebrate Dooley the skeleton king.

Final Word

Emory marries liberal‑arts intimacy with R1 research scale and an Atlanta address that opens doors in healthcare, finance, public policy, and the arts. Admission is selective but transparent: prove academic rigor, sustained impact, and city‑savvy ambition, and the Eagle could be your new mascot.

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