Eager Early Decision (ED) I applicants logged into their Emory University applicant portals on Dec. 10 after months of anxiously awaiting to find out whether they would be joining Emory’s Class of 2030.
This year, the University accepted 1,041 students through its binding ED I program. From this pool of admittees, Emory accepted 845 students to the Atlanta campus, 417 students to Oxford College and 221 to both campuses. Last week, Emory also announced a cohort of 57 students from QuestBridge, a non-profit organization that matches low-income students to top higher education institutions.
The ED I acceptance rate for the Class of 2030 was 29%, a decrease from last year’s acceptance rate of 31%. Overall, 3,593 students applied through the ED I program, an 8% increase from last year’s 3,311 applicants. According to the Emory News Center release, this increase in applications was record-setting.
Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission John Latting praised the “remarkable” backgrounds of the ED1 pool in an Emory News Center release.
“The talent base of applicants is bigger and broader than we’ve ever seen,” Latting wrote.
Latting said one factor contributing to an increase in talent and application numbers may have been the Emory Advantage Plus program, which was announced in September. Under the expanded program, undergraduate students whose families earn $200,000 or less will attend the University for free, starting in Fall 2026. These full-tuition scholarships apply to current students and the incoming Class of 2030.
Oxford College Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Enrollment Services Kelley Lips (02Ox, 04C) wrote that she was excited to see how the Class of 2030 will shape the University in the Emory News Center release.
“The enthusiasm we saw from this year’s Early Decision I applicants underscores Emory’s appeal to students who want to learn, lead and engage deeply,” Lips wrote. “Our newest admits bring remarkable promise and wide-ranging perspectives, and we’re excited to support the impact they will make across both campuses.”
