Emory University: the complete school report for parents

What does Emory University actually weigh in admissions?

Emory University rates 6 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, personal qualities, talent. It does not consider 2 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Emory University's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

77% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.8 on a 4 scale, reported for 95% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

What is the Emory University waitlist really like?

Emory University offered a place on its waiting list to 7,608 applicants and 6,422 accepted one. 274 were ultimately admitted. That is 4.3% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Emory University admitted 22.7% of 2,399 transfer applicants, against 10.3% of first-year applicants. For a student who does not get in at eighteen, the transfer route is a genuinely wider door and worth planning for deliberately. The minimum college GPA considered is 3.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 22.2% of ED applicants were admitted against 10.3% overall, a gap of 12 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Emory University sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 22 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended.

What will Emory University actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $22,585 a year at Emory University after grants and scholarships. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 100% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 93 merit awards averaging $24,314 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

24% of Emory University graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $19,914 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $193 a month in repayment. Emory University’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Emory University pay off?

Graduates earn a median $80,137 ten years after entering, and $74,980 at six years. 88% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 80% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$166,603 to $53,363, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Emory University:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

95% of first-years return for a second year. 91% within six (2019 cohort).

How big are the classes?

63% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 2% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and 76% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

What is life at Emory University like?

7,320 undergraduates, 84% of first-years from out of state. 98% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 58% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 22% of men join a fraternity and 22% of women a sorority. 16% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $80,509.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Emory University recommends 22 academic units.
• 77% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.8. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Emory University rates test scores Very Important, so a score at or above its middle-50 range is close to expected rather than optional.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Early Decision is worth 12 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 274 of 6,422 who waited were admitted, about 4%.
• If the first-year answer is no, the transfer route is genuinely wider here and worth planning for from the first semester of college.
• Its highest-earning major returns $166,603 five years out against $53,363 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Emory University

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