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Emory University

Former name	Emory College (1836–1915)
Motto	Cor prudentis possidebit scientiam (Latin)
Motto in English	"The wise heart seeks knowledge"
Type	Private research university
Established	1836; 189 years ago (1836)
Accreditation	SACS
Religious affiliation	United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations	AAU COFHE GRA IAMSCU NAICU ORAU
Endowment	$11 billion (2021)
President	Gregory L. Fenves
Total staff	32,594 (2020) includes approx. 24,000 health care employees
Students	15,909 (Fall 2022)
Undergraduates	8,155 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates	7,754 (Fall 2022)
Location	Atlanta , Georgia , United States 33°47′28″N 84°19′24″W / 33.79111°N 84.32333°W / 33.79111; -84.32333
Campus	Large city, 631 acres (255 ha)
Other campuses	Oxford
Newspaper	The Emory Wheel
Colors	Blue and gold
Nickname	Eagles
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – UAA
Mascot	Swoop the Eagle Dooley the Skeleton

Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was started in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The university was named after Methodist bishop John Emory. Its main campus is in Druid Hills, about 3 miles from Downtown Atlanta.

Emory has nine schools for undergraduate and graduate students. Nearly 16,000 students from the US and over 100 other countries study there. Emory Healthcare is Georgia's biggest healthcare system. It includes seven hospitals, like Emory University Hospital. The university also runs important research centers. These include the Winship Cancer Institute and the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Emory works closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They partner on many health research projects.

Emory University has one of the largest financial funds among US universities. It is known for its very high research activity. Emory joined the Association of American Universities in 1995.

Many famous people have studied or taught at Emory University. This includes a President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize winners. Other notable alumni include Rhodes Scholars and Pulitzer Prize winners. Emory has over 165,000 alumni around the world.

History of Emory University

Early Years and Growth (1800s)

Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church is on the campus of Emory University.

Emory College began in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia. It was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The college was named after Bishop John Emory. Ignatius Alphonso Few was its first president. In 1854, the Atlanta Medical College was founded. This college later became part of the Emory University School of Medicine.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Emory College closed. Many students joined the Confederate army. The campus was used as a hospital and later by the Union Army. The war caused a lot of damage to the college.

After the war, Emory College faced financial problems. In 1880, a New York banker named George I. Seney helped the college. He gave money to pay off debts and build new facilities. In the 1880s, Emory started a technology department. Its first international student, Yun Chi-ho, graduated in 1893. He later wrote the national anthem of South Korea.

Becoming a University (1900s)

Asa Griggs Candler, founder of The Coca-Cola Company, helped Emory move to Atlanta and become a university.

In 1906, the Wesley Memorial Hospital and Training School for Nurses was created. This later became the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. The Candler School of Theology was started in 1914.

In 1915, Emory College moved to Druid Hills, Georgia. It became Emory University after receiving land from Asa Griggs Candler. He was the founder of The Coca-Cola Company. Because of large gifts from the Candler, Woodruff, and Goizueta families, some people call it "Coca-Cola University." The Emory University School of Law was established in 1916.

World Wars and Contributions

During World War I, Emory University sent a medical unit to France. In World War II, the Emory Unit served again in North Africa and Europe. Emory students, alumni, and faculty also served in these wars. For example, Bobby Jones, a famous golfer, served during the Battle of Normandy.

Emory helped the country prepare for war. It had programs to train officers for the United States Navy and United States Army. The Candler School of Theology trained military chaplains.

Social Change and Expansion

The women's movement and civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s changed Emory. In 1953, Emory officially became a school for both men and women. In 1962, Emory fought against Georgia laws that prevented racially mixed schools from getting tax benefits. The court ruled in Emory's favor, and the university became racially integrated. Marvin S. Arrington Sr. was Emory's first full-time African American student.

In 1971, Emory started one of the first African-American studies programs in the Southeast. Emory also supported global human rights. In 1983, Kim Dae-jung, who later became President of South Korea, gave a speech about human rights at Emory. He received an honorary degree.

In 2005, Emory gave its President Medal to Civil Rights Movement activist Rosa Parks. In 2014, John Lewis, a civil rights leader, spoke at Emory's graduation.

In 1979, Emory University received a huge gift. Robert W. Woodruff and George W. Woodruff donated $105 million in Coca-Cola stock. This was the largest gift ever given to a US university at that time.

Emory in the 21st Century

New buildings have been added to the Atlanta Campus. These include centers for cancer research, biomedical research, and performing arts. In 2018, Emory's campus officially became part of the City of Atlanta.

Gregory L. Fenves became Emory University's president in August 2020.

Academics at Emory

Admissions and Student Body

Admissions statistics
2021 entering class
Admit rate	10.6%
Test scores middle 50%
SAT Total	1470–1540
ACT Composite	34–35

Emory University is very selective. For the class of 2023, the average SAT score was 1500 and the average ACT score was 34. In 2022, only about 10.6% of students who applied were accepted. Emory does not consider a student's financial need when making admission decisions for US applicants.

Emory University had 15,846 students in fall 2021. This included 8,197 undergraduate students. Students come from all over the US and over 100 countries. The student-to-faculty ratio is 7:1, meaning there are 7 students for every teacher.

Undergraduate Schools

Emory College of Arts and Sciences

The Main Quadrangle on Emory University's Druid Hills Campus.

Emory College of Arts and Sciences offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S) degrees. Emory also has a partnership with Nanjing University in China. The Emory-Tibet Partnership started in 1998.

Emory offers special honors programs for high-achieving students. More than 25% of undergraduate students join an honors program each year.

Undergraduate/Graduate Schools
School	Year founded
Emory College of Arts and Sciences	1836
Oxford College	1836
Emory University School of Medicine	1854
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing	1905
Candler School of Theology	1914
Emory University School of Law	1916
Laney Graduate School	1919
Goizueta Business School	1919
Rollins School of Public Health	1990

Emory University has a special five-year program in engineering. Students can earn two degrees, one from Emory and one from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Oxford College

Oxford College offers an Associate degree (A.A.) in liberal arts. After finishing at Oxford College, students can move to Emory College of Arts and Sciences to complete their four-year degree.

Graduate and Professional Schools

Gambrell Hall, home to the Emory University School of Law.

The Emory University School of Medicine offers degrees like the Doctor of Medicine (MD).

The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing offers nursing degrees.

The Candler School of Theology trains leaders for church ministries. It is based on Christian faith.

The Emory University School of Law offers law degrees. It was founded in 1916. It was the first law school in Georgia to join the American Association of Law Schools.

The Laney Graduate School offers Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Arts degrees.

The Goizueta Business School offers business degrees.

The Rollins School of Public Health offers degrees in public health.

Emory's Library System

Matheson Reading Room, Candler Library Annex, Robert W. Woodruff Library.

Emory University's libraries have over 3.9 million books and digital materials. The main library is the Robert W. Woodruff Library. Other libraries include the Law Library and the Pitts Theology Library.

The Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library has special collections. These include rare books and papers from famous writers. In 2012, The Princeton Review named Emory among the "10 Colleges with the Best Libraries."

University Rankings

U.S. university rankings

ARWU World	101–150
THES World	106=
USNWR National University	24
Washington Monthly National University	55
Forbes	31

Emory University is highly ranked. U.S. News & World Report ranked Emory 24th among national universities in the US for 2023-2024. Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Emory 20th in the US.

Many of Emory's specific programs are also highly ranked. For example, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing was ranked 1st for its Master of Science in Nursing programs. The Rollins School of Public Health was ranked 3rd in the nation.

Research at Emory

Research Facilities and Partnerships

Whitehead Biomedical Research Building, Emory University.

Emory University is known for its very high research activity. In 2021, Emory received $894.7 million for research from outside groups. Emory leads the nation in students receiving special research fellowships from the National Institutes of Health.

In 1947, Emory gave land to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for the CDC headquarters. Emory and the CDC work together on many health projects. This includes research on preventing diseases and improving health globally.

Emory University played a key role in stopping the 2014 Ebola virus cases in the United States. Its special isolation and treatment facilities were very important. In 2015, the US Health Department named Emory the main center for the National Ebola Training and Education Center.

Dowman Administration Building.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services's National Institutes of Health provides a lot of funding for Emory's research. In 2021, the university received nearly $600 million from this agency.

Emory University researchers discovered Emtricitabine. This is a drug used to treat HIV. The World Health Organization considers it one of the most important antiviral drugs.

In 2023, Emory opened Georgia's largest health sciences research building. This huge building houses over 1,000 researchers. They work on many health topics, including cancer and heart disease.

Emory Campuses

Aerial view of Emory University's campus (bottom) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (top).

Emory University's first campus was in Oxford, Georgia, established in 1836. This 56-acre campus is now home to Oxford College of Emory University. Many buildings there have Neoclassical architecture and Gothic Revival architecture.

Emory's Atlanta Campus covers over 600 acres in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighborhood. The campus has many trees, like pine, maple, and oak. The Arbor Day Foundation named Emory a Tree Campus USA school. Many buildings use multi-colored granite and Spanish tiles.

Clock tower at Cox Hall.

The Atlanta campus is home to Emory University Hospital. It also has the Michael C. Carlos Museum, which has a large collection of ancient artifacts. The Winship Cancer Institute is Georgia's only cancer center recognized by the National Cancer Institute. The Yerkes National Primate Research Center is also on campus.

In 1991, Emory opened one of the first college LGBT student centers in the Southeast. It is the tenth oldest in the nation.

During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Emory hosted the US women's gymnastics team. This team, called the Magnificent Seven, won the first gold medal for the US in women's team gymnastics.

Student Life at Emory

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity	Total
White	37%	37
Asian	23%	23
Foreign national	15%	15
Hispanic	11%	11
Black	9%	9
Other	5%	5
Economic diversity
Low-income	21%	21
Non-low income	79%	79

Student Activities and Arts

Emory students can study or participate in the performing and fine arts. There are over 50 student groups focused on the arts. Students can explore dance, theater, music, writing, and more. Emory often hosts art events for the community. Famous artists and thinkers visit campus to discuss creativity.

Debate and Community Service

The Barkley Forum Center for Debate Education is Emory's debate team. It is named after Emory alumnus Alben Barkley, who was a US Vice President. Emory's debate team has won many national awards.

Emory received an award for its commitment to community service in 2008. About 25% of Emory students join Volunteer Emory. This group helps the community in many ways. Emory Cares International Service Day brings together students and alumni to volunteer worldwide.

Student Newspaper and Programs Abroad

The Emory Wheel is Emory University's student-run newspaper. It is published weekly during the school year. The newspaper is independent from the university.

Emory students can study in over 40 countries. They can attend top universities around the world.

Greek Life and Student Groups

Fraternities have been at Emory since 1840. Today, about 20% of undergraduate students are part of Greek life. Fraternities and sororities have houses on campus.

Hundreds of student clubs and organizations operate at Emory. These include student government groups and special interest clubs. The Student Government Association helps fund other student groups. Emory also has several secret societies.

Emory has a partnership with Coca-Cola. They work together on projects that help students volunteer to preserve nature and restore parks. There are also many Black student organizations at Emory.

Athletics

Emory's 18 sports teams are called the Eagles. They compete in the NCAA Division III. Emory consistently ranks among the top schools for its overall athletics program.

Notable People from Emory

Author Salman Rushdie, a Booker Prize-winning novelist, talking with Emory University students.

Emory University has over 13,200 faculty and staff. It has over 133,000 living alumni. Many alumni and faculty have received major awards. These include the Nobel Peace Prize and the Pulitzer Prize.

Some notable alumni include:

Alben W. Barkley (BA 1900), 35th Vice President of the United States.
Bobby Jones (Law 1929), the only golfer to win a Grand Slam. He also founded the Masters Golf Tournament.
Newt Gingrich (BA 1965), 58th Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Kenneth Cole (BA 1976), a famous clothing designer.
Fala Chen (2005C), a Chinese American actress.
Elizabeth Prelogar (BA 2002), 48th Solicitor General of the United States.

Notable faculty members include:

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States.
Sir Salman Rushdie, a Booker Prize-winning novelist.
Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Natasha Trethewey, a Pulitzer Prize winner and US Poet Laureate.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent.

Images for kids

Isaac S. Hopkins, First President of the Georgia Institute of Technology (1859C)
Yun Chi-ho, Author of "Aegukga", national anthem of South Korea (1893C)
Alben Barkley, 35th Vice President of the United States (1900C, 1949H)
Bobby Jones, Only golfer to win a Grand Slam and founder of the Masters Tournament (1929JD)
Kiyoshi Tanimoto, Hibakusha portrayed in John Hersey's Hiroshima, Organized the Hiroshima Maidens Program (1940T, 1986H)
Newt Gingrich, 50th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1965C)
Larry Leon Palmer, United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (1970C)
Bernice King, American minister and activist, the youngest child of Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr. (1990JD)
Jim Sarbh, Indian film and stage actor and screen award winner.
Robert W. Woodruff, President of The Coca-Cola Company from 1923 until 1954 (Did not graduate)
Natasha Trethewey, 19th US Poet Laureate, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of English and Creative Writing
Desmond Tutu, South African social rights activist, Recipient of 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for opposition to Apartheid (Professor)
Han Qide Vice Chairman of National People's Congress, People's Republic of China (Professor)
William Foege, tenth Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, Credited for global eradication of Smallpox (Professor)
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, Recipient of 1989 Nobel Peace Prize and Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 (Professor)
Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, Recipient of 2002 Nobel Peace Prize (Professor)