A good-quality education can set graduates up for success well into their future — however, those top-tier degrees come with a high price, and Emory University is no exception. On March 18, the University announced yet another increase of the undergraduate tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year. Full tuition will now be $67,080, totaling a staggering $88,536 in tuition, fees, room and board. This price hike marks a 15.99% tuition increase over the last four years and a 5.8% increase from the 2024-25 academic year. As compared to their initial fees as first-year students, graduating seniors paid an additional $16,765 in attendance costs for their final year at Emory.
The University Board of Trustees approved the increase following recommendations from University President Gregory Fenves to “[support] Emory’s work to provide students with exceptional educational experiences and opportunities so they can flourish academically and personally.” This tuition hike mirrors recent trends at peer institutions like Duke University (N.C.), Carnegie Mellon University (Penn.) and Washington University in St. Louis. In spite of Emory’s professed commitment to accessibility, tuition raises ultimately threaten socioeconomic diversity at Emory by excluding those without significant need-based aid.
While Emory touts initiatives like the Emory Advantage grant program, which replaces need-based loans with grants, these measures fall short as compared to the more expansive, all-encompassing financial aid offerings of institutions like Harvard University (Mass.) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Emory Advantage determines students’ grant eligibility through FAFSA and College Scholarship Service Profile need-based aid standards, which often leave out those from middle-class families. However, Harvard, for instance, announced that starting in September 2025, students from families earning less than $200,000 will not have to pay tuition, and those from families earning less than $100,000 will have all costs covered, including accommodation and food. Harvard’s program alleviates the financial burden on students from lower- and upper-middle class families, contrasting with Emory’s tuition hikes that leave out students in the middle who may not be eligible for significant financial aid.
Middle-class families often find themselves ineligible for substantial financial aid at institutions like Emory, yet struggle to meet the escalating costs. This dynamic threatens to erode the socioeconomic diversity that enriches the academic environment as higher education becomes increasingly inaccessible to a broad spectrum of qualified students. The structure of need-based aid allows low-income students to receive full or significant financial support but excludes those whose families earn above the threshold yet not enough to afford full tuition without financial hardship. Raising tuition raises the barrier of entry most significantly for those on the periphery of the middle-income bracket, on the tail end of the $150,000 cap of the middle class, who may not qualify for the financial aid needed to cover their cost of attendance.
Furthermore, high tuition discourages low-income prospective students from enrolling at Emory, further decreasing socioeconomic diversity. A report by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators found that high tuition discourages low-income students from attending prestigious universities and that “low-income families’ relative lack of knowledge about the admissions and financial aid processes may exacerbate the problem.” Further, raising tuition costs can decrease enrollment among economically disadvantaged students, thereby reducing socioeconomic diversity on campus. The report found that a $1,000 increase in tuition for full-time freshmen inversely corresponds with a 4.5% decrease in class diversity. By raising its tuition, Emory risks losing qualified low-income students whom the high costs may deter.
Transparency regarding the allocation of these additional funds is paramount. Students and their families deserve a clear understanding of how their investment translates into these supposed “enhanced educational experiences,” as Fenves wrote in an Emory News Center statement. Without explicit communication from the administration detailing the utilization of increased revenues, the justification for such substantial tuition hikes remains unknown. Emory students deserve a detailed breakdown of how their institution is spending their tuition.
As Emory plans these increases, it is imperative to allocate the additional revenue toward initiatives that enhance the academic community and support those who contribute significantly to the University's operations. EmoryUnite!, the Ph.D. student union, is actively seeking better compensation and benefits for its members In August 2024, the union filed a petition emphasizing the need for stipends aligned with Atlanta's cost of living. The Laney Graduate School increased Ph.D. stipends by 14% over two years to up to $40,000, but this still falls short of the estimated living wage in Atlanta.
Additionally, the salaries of adjunct professors should reflect their contributions and the rising cost of living. Over 25% of adjunct professors nationwide report annual earnings that fall below the federal poverty line. Although adjunct professors are typically contract-based employees, the time and effort they pour into the learning environments of universities must not go unnoticed.
Likewise, Emory cannot forget about the student workers who are integral to the University’s daily operations. In 2022, Emory implemented a plan to raise the minimum wage for student workers to $15 per hour by September 2024, starting with an increase to $12 per hour in January 2023. While this is a positive step toward fairer compensation, ensuring that these wage adjustments keep pace with inflation and the cost of living in Atlanta is crucial. A University press release previously stated that the projected cost of this pay rate adjustment would range from $625,000 to $800,000. Given the University’s $2.2 billion annual operating budget, allocating funds to support fair wages for student workers is a feasible and necessary investment in the University's human capital. By directing tuition increases toward fair compensation for Ph.D. students, adjunct professors and student workers, Emory can demonstrate a commitment to equity and support for those foundational to its academic excellence.
In light of these concerns, Emory must prioritize transparency and equity. By clearly articulating the necessity and application of tuition increases and ensuring that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to the full spectrum of educational opportunities, the University can reaffirm its commitment to fostering an inclusive and enriching academic community.
