Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, known for its strength in the life sciences and pre-health education — anchored by deep ties to the neighboring CDC and Emory Healthcare — alongside the highly ranked Goizueta Business School. Admission is highly selective: Emory admitted about 10.3% of more than 37,500 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted middle-50% SAT scores of 1480–1540 and an average high school GPA near 3.80. Business and the biological sciences are the two most-conferred fields, together making up roughly a third of bachelor's degrees. Emory is test-optional and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, with a typical need-based package around $68,000 for first-year students.
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Emory admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
Emory offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~2.6× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
Emory is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Emory's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
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.
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.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency. Books and personal expenses aren't itemized in this Common Data Set.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about Emory admissions
Is it hard to get into Emory?＋
Yes. Emory is highly selective, admitting about 10.3% of applicants in the most recent cycle — roughly 3,869 offers out of more than 37,500 applications, with about 1,443 students enrolling. Admitted first-years cluster near the top of their high school class, averaging about a 3.80 GPA with middle-50% SAT scores of 1480–1540.
What GPA do you need to get into Emory?＋
Enrolled first-years at Emory average about a 3.80 high school GPA, and the class skews heavily toward the top of its cohort — among the 17% who reported a class rank, roughly 76% were in the top tenth of their graduating class. There is no hard cutoff, but academic GPA and the rigor of your course load are both weighed as very important admission factors.
Does Emory require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — Emory is test-optional, so you can apply without submitting scores and choose whether they're considered. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1480–1540 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT, and standardized test scores are weighed as a very important factor when you do send them.
Is a 1490 SAT good enough for Emory?＋
A 1490 is competitive but sits near the lower end of Emory's admitted range — the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1480–1540 on the SAT (33–35 ACT), with a median around 1510. Because Emory is test-optional, a score at the bottom of that band is best supported by strong grades, essays, and activities, all of which are weighed heavily in the review.
What is Emory's Early Decision acceptance rate?＋
Emory offers two binding Early Decision rounds (ED I and ED II), and the early pool admits at a higher rate than the overall 10.3%: about 1,049 admits from 4,728 Early Decision applications, or roughly 22%. ED is binding, so apply only if Emory is your clear first choice — the stronger admit rate reflects both demonstrated commitment and a self-selecting applicant pool.
How much does Emory cost, and how much financial aid does it give?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $71,448 per year, with food and housing adding roughly $22,406 on top. Emory meets 100% of demonstrated financial need; about 32% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average need-based package near $68,253.
What are the most popular majors at Emory?＋
Business is the single most popular field at about 19% of degrees, followed by the biological sciences (15%) and the social sciences (13%). Mathematics and statistics, the health professions, and psychology round out the most-conferred fields, reflecting Emory's strong pre-business and pre-health pipelines.
Does the application essay matter at Emory?＋
Yes. Emory rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, alongside recommendations and volunteer work, while character, talent, extracurriculars, GPA, and rigor are weighed as very important. With admission this selective and a test-optional policy in place, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places a strong applicant can stand out.
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).