Updated April 19, 2026

Emory University — Acceptance Rate and Statistics

What is attending Emory University like?

Founded in 1836, Emory University is widely regarded as a “Southern Ivy,” combining the close-knit academic culture of a liberal arts college with the resources and opportunities of a major research institution.

Prospective students may apply to either or both the Emory College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) campus in a tree-shaded suburb of Atlanta, or the smaller, liberal-arts-focused Oxford College, on the University’s bucolic original campus in Oxford, Georgia. Following their first two years at the University, all students continue on the Atlanta campus for specialized coursework. 

With over 80 majors and numerous minors, pre-professional programs, and combined degrees, the University emphasizes experiential learning and research. Beyond academic rigor, the university boasts upwards of 300 student organizations, spanning from student government, athletics, arts, service, and Greek life. As a result, Emory consistently ranks among the nation’s top universities in terms of student satisfaction and quality of life.

Emory University 2024-2025 Admissions Data

Emory University Admissions Statistics

Emory University’s acceptance rate has historically hovered between 10-15%. According to The Emory Wheel, the University’s acceptance rate for both Emory College and Oxford College during the 2024-25 admissions cycle was 15% over all rounds of applications (Early Decision I (ED1), Early Decision II (ED2), and Regular Decision). In total, the University received 37,855 applications and accepted 5,658 students. Of that percentage, 995 students were accepted during ED1, a 31% acceptance rate across ECAS and Oxford College, and 336 students were accepted during ED2, a 10% acceptance rate to ECAS and an 11% acceptance rate to Oxford College. The Regular Decision application round saw an additional 4,327 students admitted. 

Both Early Decision rounds and Regular Decision are competitive processes, but if you’ve decided already that Emory is the place for you, you can demonstrate your commitment to the school by applying during one of the Early Decision cycles.

2024-2025 Emory University (Class of 2029) Acceptance Rate

Admission Cycle	Number of applicants	Number admitted	Acceptance rate
All Applicants	37,855	5,658	15%

Emory University Acceptance Rate History*

Year	Number of applicants	Number admitted	Acceptance rate
2023-2024 (Class of 2028)	34,914	5,058	15%
2022-2023 (Class of 2027)	33,534	5,445	16%
2021-2022 (Class of 2026)	33,517	5,303	16%
2020-2021 (Class of 2025)	33,780	6,892	20%

Emory Class of 2029 Middle 50% score range of admitted students (25th and 75th percentiles)*

SAT Math	760-800 (Emory College) 730-770 (Oxford College)
SAT ERW	740–770 (Emory College)  750-790 (Oxford College)
ACT Composite	33–35

*What does this mean? The middle 50% score range refers to students from the 25th to the 75th percentile of admitted students. So if 100 students were admitted and we ranked their SAT scores from lowest to highest, we’d be looking at the middle 50 students’ stats (from student 25 through student 75).

What is Emory looking for?

Emory’s admissions site lays out lots of information about the kind of students they’d like to admit. A few qualities they highlight in their holistic admissions process include:

• Students who have embraced a challenging academic load, and have succeeded. While Emory is test-optional, the University notes that strong grades in advanced classes can offset lower scores.
• Students with glowing teacher recommendations — admissions officers are interested in learning about your strengths and difficulties in the classroom setting, and look to recommendations to learn more about your resilience and personality in an academic and social community.
• Students with an authentic voice and sense of self. Emory’s admissions staff looks for personal essays that demonstrate intellectual curiosity and engagement with your world.
• Someone who will embrace and contribute to the environment of Emory’s campus and surrounding community. Beyond academics, the University is seeking students who will engage deeply with its intellectual and extracurricular life, whether through clubs, family, work, the arts, athletics, service, or research.

You can demonstrate your unique perspective through your essays, academic profile, teacher recommendations, and activities.

Other colleges you may be interested in:

College Name*	Number of applicants (Class of 2029)	Number admitted (Class of 2029)	Acceptance rate (Class of 2029)
Duke University	53,223	1953	5%
Vanderbilt University	55,443	2,302	5%
Rice University	36,777	2,852	8%

*Data for the 2024-25 admissions cycle was found at Duke Today, The Vanderbilt Hustler, and The Rice Thresher, respectively.

PrepMaven can help you in the admissions process

Thinking of applying to Emory University? PrepMaven can help you along the way. Whether you’re looking to boost your test scores, write a killer personal statement, or improve your GPA, we can be a helpful resource. With tutors who are graduates of top universities, valedictorians, National Merit Finalists, and National AP Scholars, we’re here to help you no matter what step you’re at in the admissions process.

Give us a call at 609-945-2264 or fill out our website form to learn how our flexible packages can work for you.

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