How to get into Emory University
How to get into Emory: Oxford pathway and Atlanta's pre-med ecosystem
10.7%
Acceptance rate
$64,280
In-state cost
What makes Emory University admissions different
Emory has two undergraduate options: Emory College (the main campus) and Oxford College (a two-year residential start that automatically transitions to Emory College for junior/senior year). Oxford is a meaningful back door — lower acceptance rate threshold, smaller community, same Emory degree. Atlanta's healthcare ecosystem (CDC, Emory Healthcare, Grady) makes Emory one of the strongest pre-med environments anywhere.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply to BOTH Emory College and Oxford College on the application — it's allowed and meaningfully increases admission odds.
- 2.
If pre-med, reference Atlanta's healthcare ecosystem specifically: CDC, Emory Healthcare, Grady, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Generic pre-med language doesn't differentiate.
- 3.
Maintain 3.9+ GPA, 1480+ SAT / 33+ ACT.
- 4.
Apply Early Decision (Emory has ED1 and ED2) — meaningful acceptance bump.
- 5.
Reference Emory's specific strengths: business (Goizueta), public health, religion, neuroscience.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Applying only to Emory College when you'd accept Oxford. Apply to both — it costs nothing and meaningfully helps.
- ✕
Generic Atlanta enthusiasm. Specifics about Buckhead, Decatur, the BeltLine, or healthcare institutions matter.
- ✕
Underestimating Goizueta's business undergrad. It's one of the top undergraduate business programs and admits competitively.
If you're on the bubble
If you'd take Oxford College, the dual-apply option is one of the best back doors at any top-25 school. Median-stats applicants get Oxford admissions when Emory College itself is out of reach.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.