Emory University: A Comprehensive Insight

 Emory University: A Comprehensive Insight

Emory University is a private research university within Atlanta, Georgia, established in 1836 by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Bishop John Emory. Situated within the historic Druid Hills neighborhood, the primary Atlanta campus is approximately six kilometers (~4 miles) away from downtown .

Campuses & Colleges

Emory encompasses two academic campuses:

Atlanta Campus (Druid Hills): This location houses the majority of the university's schools and graduate programs.

Oxford College, in Oxford, GA, roughly 38 miles east of Atlanta, is the original campus and home to first- and second-year students.

Undergraduate education starts either at Emory College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta or at Oxford College; following two years, students then move to complete their degree in Atlanta or follow tracks in Goizueta Business School (BBA) or the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing (BSN).

In addition to these, Emory has nine schools covering undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools: e.g., the School of Medicine (1854), School of Law (1916), Candler School of Theology (1914), Rollins School of Public Health (1990), and Laney Graduate School, among others.

Academic Landscape

There are 80+ majors, 60+ minors, and 13 preprofessional programs available to Emory students, which promotes interdisciplinary learning.

Total student enrollment is close to 15,175, approximately evenly divided between 7,407 undergraduate and 7,768 graduate/professional students.

Class sizes are small: 9:1 student-faculty ratio, with 76% of courses having fewer than 30 students; Oxford's average class size is 19. 

Research Excellence & Health Leadership

Emory is globally esteemed as an institution of research leadership with a strong academic health system:

Emory Healthcare is the state of Georgia's largest healthcare system, with 11 hospitals, more than 2,800 physicians in 70 specialties, and vast clinical facilities .

Among them is Winship Cancer Institute, the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of Georgia, pioneering cancer research and treatment .

Emory University Hospital is a major teaching hospital, boasting 800+ beds and areas of excellence in cardiology, oncology, transplantation, neuroscience, and ophthalmology. 

In addition, Emory works extensively with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is located adjacent to the campus, developing public health leadership .

Libraries, Museums & Cultural Resources

Emory's cultural and academic diversity is enhanced by:

The comprehensive Emory University Libraries system, comprising the Woodruff Library, Business Library, Marshalls, Law, Theology, Health Sciences, and the Oxford College Library. 

Significantly, MARBL (Rose Library) preserves rare manuscripts and archives in disciplines such as African American and Southern history.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum, which is among the oldest in Georgia, provides distinguished collections in art and archaeology with roots dating back to 1876 and growth through substantial support in the late 20th century.

History & Traditions

Founded in Oxford in 1836, Emory has come a long way. Highlights are desegregation in the 1960s and the creation of the Carter Center by President Jimmy Carter in 1982 .

The university continues to look back and acknowledge its past, with efforts such as its Land Acknowledgment noting its location on Indigenous land .

Student Life, Diversity & Financial Aid

Emory maintains a dynamic, diverse student community:

Students come from 49 states and 70 nations, fostering a globally diverse population .

Emory covers 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted home students, while initiatives such as Emory Advantage increase access .

Oxford undergraduates have a 100% experiential learning rate of participation; Goizueta Business students have internships (91% participation) .

Admissions & Identity

The university adopts a test-optional approach, laying greater emphasis on academic rigor, recommendation letters, essays, and extracurricular achievements in its review process.

Ranked by The Princeton Review (2025) Best Quality of Life, Classroom Experience, and Happiest Students.

Emory reflects a tradition of liberal arts with a bold spirit and unapologetic research that prepares students as critical thinkers and empathetic leaders for addressing the world's problems.