Emory University admitted 865 Early Decision I (ED1) applicants on Dec. 13 with a 32% acceptance rate. In total, 705 students were admitted to Emory College of Arts and Sciences (ECAS) and 364 were admitted to Oxford College, with 205 of those students being admitted to both campuses, according to a University press release.
The Class of 2028 saw 2,704 ED1 applicants, the largest ED1 pool in Emory’s history and a 12% increase from last year. This follows recent trends in more students applying ED1 to Emory. Last year, Emory received 9.48% more ED1 applicants for the Class of 2027 than the Class of 2026.
Despite the increase in ED1 applicants this year, the University admitted nearly 4.21% fewer students than last year, when Emory admitted 903 ED1 applicants.
As a binding admissions option, ED1 allows students who apply by Nov. 1 to receive their admission results by Dec. 15, according to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Students who are accepted under this plan are obligated to attend Emory.
ED1 applicants are part of the first college admissions cycle since the Supreme Court of the United States struck down affirmative action in June. University President Gregory Fenves wrote in a June email to the Emory community that he was “deeply concerned” about the implications of the decision, sharing that he was still committed to diversity in admissions.
In response to the decision, Emory added new essay prompts to this year’s application that are aimed at understanding applicants’ cultural backgrounds. For example, one question asks applicants to name a “community” they have been a part of and how their participation changed the community for the better. There are six questions for applicants to choose from, none of which explicitly mention race.
This year, 39% of admitted students did not submit test scores, similar to last year’s percentage, according to the Dec. 14 press release. Emory has not required students to submit an SAT or ACT since 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Latting said in the press release that keeping the test-optional policy helps Emory attract students from a broader range of backgrounds and experiences.
Emory previously admitted 85 applicants to the Class of 2028 on Dec. 1 under the QuestBridge National College Match program, which is 24 more students than last year. Five of the admitted QuestBridge applicants will attend Oxford. QuestBridge provides low-income students access to a free college education. Of the QuestBridge students who Emory reviewed, 61% are first-generation college students.
The University will continue to accept applications for the Class of 2028 through Early Decision II (ED2) and Regular Decision rounds, which both have Jan. 1 application deadlines. ED2 applicants will receive results by Feb. 15, and Regular Decision applicants will receive their decisions by April 1.
Latting emphasized the admitted students’ academic accomplishments in the University’s press release, noting their hard work.
“This year, I am struck by remarkably strong academic preparation of the admitted Emory Early Decision I class; these students have worked hard in challenging classes, engaged with their teachers and classmates, and really succeeded in that context,” Latting said in the press release. “They are ready to move onward and upward and thrive in Emory's classrooms.”
