Emory University vs. Georgia Institute of Technology

Picture the student who fits Georgia Tech: she came in already pointed at engineering or computing, she handles a big public campus in Midtown Atlanta without flinching, and she wants the in-state price that makes Tech a steal for Georgia residents and a far bigger bill for everyone else. Emory draws a different crowd. Out in leafy Druid Hills, next door to the CDC, it pulls future doctors and business majors through Goizueta, and it keeps classes small and faculty close in a way Tech simply does not. Tech runs huge, public, and male-heavy. The workload there runs brutal, and nobody hands you a curve. Residency tilts everything at Tech, so out-of-state you should treat it as a long shot no matter how strong you look. Be honest about whether you already know your field before you apply: Emory lets you arrive undecided and circle pre-health or business; Tech rewards the student who walks in certain.

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EmoryAtlanta, GA

Acceptance rate

Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.

10.3%acceptance rate
Applied
37,561
Admitted
3,869
Enrolled
1,443

Early decision

Emory offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.

Early Decision
Binding · I & II
Early Action
Not offered
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Admit rate by application plan

% admitted
Early Decision22.2%
Regular Decision8.6%

~2.6× higher admit rate applying early.

ED Applications
4,728
ED Admitted
1,049

Standardized tests

Emory is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1480
50th Percentile
1510
75th Percentile
1540

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
33
50th Percentile
34
75th Percentile
35

Class rank

Where Emory's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class76%
Top quarter of class97%
Top half of class99%

Based on the 17% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Emory does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Emory weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Emory's Common Data Set.

$93,854
Tuition & Fees
$71,448
Room & Board
$22,406
Total
$93,854

Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency. Books and personal expenses aren't itemized in this Common Data Set.

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$7k
$30–48k~$9k
$48–75k~$11k
$75–110k~$14k
$110k+~$53k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid.

% of undergrads with Pell grants18.2%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
32%
Avg. Package
$68,253
Avg. Need Met
100%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business
Biological Sciences
Social Sciences
Mathematics & Statistics
Health Professions
Psychology
Other
Business
19%
Bio Sci
15%
Social Sci
13%
Math/Stats
9%
Health Prof
7%
Psychology
6%
Other
31%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

8.3:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return95%
Graduate within six years91%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$90k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$18k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Emory’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Biology

    202 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$71kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Neuroscience

    170 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$74kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$17k median debt
  • Nursing

    152 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$102kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Psychology

    107 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$60kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Chemistry

    91 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$79kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
Show all 22 programs
  • Computer Science

    73 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$160kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$16k median debt
  • Economics

    66 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$112kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Kinesiology & Exercise Science

    62 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$87kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Political Science

    58 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$94kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$18k median debt
  • Business Administration & Management

    55 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$137kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Philosophy

    35 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation~$15k median debt
  • Environmental Science & Natural Resources

    32 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$65kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$23k median debt
  • English

    18 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$67kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • History

    18 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$70kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Physics

    17 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Linguistics & Language Studies

    12 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$77kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Mathematics

    10 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Fine & Studio Arts

    8 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Area Studies

    7 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$75kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
  • Music

    6 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$33kmedian pay, 1 yr after graduation~$13k median debt
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

    4 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Communication & Media Studies

    Degrees conferred not published (2023-24)

    ~$79kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24)

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
98%
In Fraternities
22%
In Sororities
22%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Large city
Location
Atlanta, GA

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
5436J
5839F
6645M
7453A
8161M
8769J
9072J
8971A
8466S
7455O
6444N
5638D
Snow a year
2 in
Precipitation a year
50 in
Days at 90°F or above
47
Days below 32°F
36

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP, GA US station, 12.9 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

44%
56%
Male
3,202
Female
4,118

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White28.3%
Asian and Pacific Islander26.5%
Other22.8%
Hispanic12%
Black10.4%
Native American<1%
Georgia TechAtlanta, GA

Acceptance rate

Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.

GT AdmissionIn-state vs. out-of-state admit rates from GT Admission (Fall 2026).
13.3%acceptance rate
Applied
66,881
Admitted
8,921
Enrolled
4,071

Admit rate by residency

% admitted
In-state28%
Out-of-state9%

~3.1× higher admit rate for in-state applicants.

Early action

Georgia Tech offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Non-binding
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Georgia Tech requires standardized test scores for all applicants.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1370
50th Percentile
1460
75th Percentile
1530

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
31
50th Percentile
33
75th Percentile
35

Class rank

Where Georgia Tech's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class88.69%
Top quarter of class97.93%
Top half of class99.09%

Based on the 40.43% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Georgia Tech does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Georgia Tech weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Georgia Tech's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

$30,154
In-State
$53,238
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$12,008$35,092
Room & Board
$13,996$13,996
Other Expenses
$4,150$4,150
Total
$30,154$53,238

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$8k
$30–48k~$7k
$48–75k~$11k
$75–110k~$15k
$110k+~$17k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants13.9%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
29%
Avg. Package
$19,981
Avg. Need Met
61%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Engineering
Computing
Sciences
Business
Liberal Arts
Other
Engineering
42%
Computing
30%
Sciences
10%
Business
9%
Liberal Arts
6%
Other
3%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

20:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return97%
Graduate within six years94%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$119k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$22k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Georgia Tech’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

Show all 24 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
92%
In Fraternities
20%
In Sororities
23%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Large city
Location
Atlanta, GA

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
5436J
5839F
6645M
7453A
8161M
8769J
9072J
8971A
8466S
7455O
6444N
5638D
Snow a year
2 in
Precipitation a year
50 in
Days at 90°F or above
47
Days below 32°F
36

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP, GA US station, 10.2 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

60%
40%
Male
12,659
Female
8,369

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

Asian and Pacific Islander35.5%
White33.4%
Other13.6%
Hispanic9.2%
Black8.5%
Native American<1%

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Emory vs. Georgia Tech: frequently asked questions

Emory edges out Georgia Tech on the headline rate, admitting about 10.3% of applicants against Tech's 13.3%. The catch: Tech weighs Georgia residency as a very important factor and pulls only about 36% of its first-years from out of state, so non-resident odds fall well under that 13.3% figure. Emory draws from a national pool, with 84% of its students coming from outside Georgia, so its rate holds closer to what an out-of-state applicant actually faces.

Emory wins for pre-med. Biological sciences rank as its second-largest field at about 15% of degrees, health professions add another 7%, and the campus sits next to the CDC and Emory Healthcare. Georgia Tech leans engineering and computing, which together account for roughly 72% of its degrees, so pre-meds there usually route through biomedical engineering or the sciences instead of a dedicated life-science track. Emory carries the cleaner path through standard pre-health coursework.

For computer science, go with Georgia Tech. Computing ranks as its second-largest area at about 30% of bachelor's degrees, trailing only engineering at 42%. Emory leads its quantitative fields with mathematics and statistics at about 9% of degrees and offers computer science, but it centers its identity on business, biology, and the social sciences. A CS-focused student gets far more depth at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech charges the lower out-of-state sticker by a wide margin, roughly $35,092 in tuition and fees against Emory's $71,448, though aid compresses that gap for higher-need families. Emory meets 100% of demonstrated need, puts about 32% of first-years on need-based aid, and averages a package near $68,253. Tech meets roughly 61% of need, covers about 29% of first-years on need-based aid, and averages a package near $19,981. Run both net-price calculators, since Emory's higher sticker can land below Tech's once need is factored in.

Georgia Tech dwarfs Emory in size, enrolling about 21,028 undergraduates to Emory's 7,320, close to three times as many. Class scale tracks that gap: Emory runs an 8.3-to-1 student-faculty ratio while Tech sits at 20-to-1. Both hold onto first-years at a high clip, 95% at Emory and 97% at Georgia Tech.

Both went test-optional for the most recent class, but Georgia Tech will require the SAT or ACT starting with Fall 2027 applicants, while Emory stays test-optional. Among submitters, Emory's middle 50% landed at 1480–1540 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT; Tech's came in at 1370–1530 and 31–35. One more split on timing: Emory offers binding Early Decision I and II, whereas Georgia Tech runs only non-binding Early Action.

Source: Emory University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Emory. Banner photo by Unknown author, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

Source: Georgia Institute of Technology Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Georgia Tech. Banner photo by Mistercontributer, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).