Emory Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Emory’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 is 12.29%, the lowest on record, with 5,317 students admitted from 43,269 applicants. This data combines both Emory College and Oxford College.

For Early Decision (ED), ED I results were released in December 2025, with a 29% acceptance rate. ED II decisions followed in February 2026, but Emory hasn’t released specific data yet. 

In this blog, we’ll focus on Emory’s overall, early, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates, along with how they’ve changed over time.

• Emory Acceptance Rates
• Emory Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Emory Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Emory Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Emory Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Emory Acceptance Rates

Emory’s acceptance rate is 12.29% for the Class of 2030, down from 14.95% for the Class of 2029. Applications grew from 37,855 to 43,269, while admits fell from 5,658 to 5,317.

The university reports a combined acceptance rate that covers both Emory College and Oxford College. Emory College is the main Atlanta campus where students spend all four years, while Oxford College is a smaller campus where students begin before transitioning to Atlanta after two years. Since applicants can apply to one or both, all applicants and admits are counted together in one overall rate.

While the rate edged up slightly this year, the longer trend shows Emory has grown more selective as applications have surged over the past few years.

Note: All data has been compiled from Emory’s official admissions announcements.

The biggest jump in applications came with the Class of 2025, rising from 28,517 to 33,780 after Emory went test-optional during the pandemic. Applications have remained above 33,000 since Emory has continued its test-optional policy through the 2025–2026 academic year.

The Class of 2029 was a slight exception to the downward trend, with the acceptance rate ticking up as both applications and admits increased. But zooming out, the overall direction is clear: acceptance rates have fallen from above 20% for the Classes of 2024 and 2025 to 12.29% for the Class of 2030, reflecting a steady rise in competition for a limited number of spots.

Emory Early Decision Acceptance Rate

Emory’s ED I acceptance rate is 29% for the Class of 2030, down slightly from 30.05% for the Class of 2029. Emory received 3,593 early applications and admitted 1,041 students, compared to 3,311 applicants and 995 admits the previous year. This ED I rate is calculated as a combined figure across both campuses.

Unlike many universities that report a single ED rate, Emory separates its data between ED I and ED II. ED I is reported as a combined rate, while ED II is often released separately for Emory and Oxford. Emory also doesn’t publish ED data consistently each year, so some ED II figures are incomplete or unavailable.

Emory Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Emory’s ED I acceptance rate has steadily declined over time, falling from above 40% for earlier classes to below 30% for the most recent cycle. This reflects a growing number of early applicants competing for a limited number of spots.

While ED II data is less consistent, the available figures show a similar pattern. Acceptance rates have dropped from around 13–14% in earlier years to about 10–11% in recent cycles, indicating increasing selectivity across both early rounds.

Note: All ED data has been compiled from Emory’s official early admissions announcements.

ED I has grown significantly more competitive over time. The acceptance rate fell from 41.63% for the Class of 2021 to 29% for the Class of 2030, as applications more than doubled from 1,595 to 3,593. Admits also increased from 664 to 1,041, but applicant growth has outpaced admit growth, pushing the rate down.

ED II data is only available from the Class of 2026 onward and is reported less consistently, but the trend is similar. Acceptance rates fell from 14% (Emory) and 13% (Oxford) for the Class of 2026 to 10% and 11% for the Class of 2029. Because some students are admitted to both colleges, individual totals can overlap, which is why Emory sometimes reports a combined ED II figure.

ED I rates appear higher than ED II, but the two aren’t directly comparable since ED I is reported as a combined figure across both colleges, while ED II is broken out separately. Regardless, both rounds have seen acceptance rates trend downward as more students apply early each year.

Emory Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

As mentioned earlier, Emory doesn’t consistently publish a full breakdown of RD admissions data. Because of its two-campus system and overlapping applicant pools between Emory and Oxford, it’s not possible to accurately calculate a standalone RD acceptance rate.

This also makes it difficult to directly compare RD and ED outcomes. That said, Emory states that applications are reviewed using the same academic and holistic standards in both rounds and that applying ED doesn’t necessarily make admission easier.

Emory Transfer Acceptance Rate

Emory’s most recent transfer acceptance rate of 22.68% is from Fall 2025. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Emory’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Emory’s transfer acceptance rate stands at 22.68% for Fall 2025, notably higher than the 14.95% overall first-year acceptance rate for the Class of 2029. 

That said, transfer admission can vary significantly from year to year. Fall 2024’s transfer rate was 16.20%, so applicants shouldn’t assume transferring is consistently easier than applying as a first-year student, even though recent cycles have trended in that direction.

Transfer applications open in late fall and are reviewed only for Emory College, as Oxford College does not accept transfer applicants.

Emory Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data is from the Class of 2029, with a 4.27% acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: All data has been compiled from Emory’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Emory’s waitlist is highly competitive, with a waitlist acceptance rate significantly lower than the 14.95% overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, making it one of the most difficult routes into Emory.

Being on the waitlist means your admission is still up in the air, and there’s no way to know how your chances look. If you’ve been placed on Emory’s waitlist, our detailed Emory waitlist guide walks you through the steps you can take to strengthen your position and improve your odds.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Emory’s current acceptance rate?

Emory’s current acceptance rate is 12.29% for the Class of 2030. Out of 43,269 applicants, 5,317 were admitted.

2. Is it easier to get into Emory through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

We can’t say for sure. Emory doesn’t publish RD acceptance rates, so a direct comparison isn’t possible. They also state that applying ED doesn’t make admission easier, as applications are reviewed using the same academic and holistic standards in both rounds.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Emory?

It varies by year. Emory’s transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 was 22.68%, notably higher than the overall freshman acceptance rate of 14.95% for the Class of 2029. That said, Fall 2024’s transfer rate was just 16.20%, so transfer admission isn’t consistently easier than applying as a first-year.

4. What are my chances of getting off Emory’s waitlist?

Very low. For the Class of 2029, Emory admitted just 274 students out of 6,422 who confirmed their spots on the waitlist, resulting in a 4.27% acceptance rate. This makes the waitlist a very competitive and unpredictable path to admission.

5. Why is Emory’s acceptance rate so low?

Emory’s acceptance rate is low because applications have grown much faster than the number of available spots. Applications increased from 37,855 for the Class of 2029 to 43,269 for the Class of 2030, while admits fell from 5,658 to 5,317, pushing the acceptance rate down to 12.29%.

Takeaways

• Emory’s acceptance rate was above 20% for the Classes of 2024 and 2025 and has since fallen to a record low of 12.29% for the Class of 2030.
• ED I acceptance rates have declined from over 40% for earlier classes to 29% for the Class of 2030. ED II rates have also dropped, from around 13–14% for the Class of 2026 to about 10–11% for the Class of 2029.
• Emory doesn’t always publish a full breakdown of RD admissions data, and ED II data is reported unevenly across years, making some figures unavailable or difficult to compare.
• Transfer and waitlist admissions are also competitive, though outcomes vary by year. Emory’s transfer acceptance rate was 22.68% for Fall 2025, while its waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was just 4.27%.
• With acceptance rates continuing to decline, strong academics alone aren’t enough. Working with an admissions consultant can help you build a stronger application, highlight your strengths, and stand out in a highly competitive pool.