Auburn vs. Emory

Deciding between Auburn University and Emory University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Auburn University
Emory University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Auburn Auburn, AL
  • Emory Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • Auburn Small City
  • Emory Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Auburn 34,145
  • Emory 15,175
  • Type
  • Auburn Public 4 Year
  • Emory Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Auburn #301
  • Emory #28
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Auburn -
  • Emory United Methodist
  • Status
  • Auburn Non-profit
  • Emory Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Auburn
  • Emory

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Auburn $12,890
  • Emory $64,280
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Auburn $34,922
  • Emory $64,280
  • Room & Board
  • Auburn $16,626
  • Emory $20,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Auburn $25,242
  • Emory $27,303
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Auburn $10,872
  • Emory $56,319
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Auburn 80%
  • Emory 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Auburn 55,056
  • Emory 33,450
  • Admitted
  • Auburn 25,284
  • Emory 3,562
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Auburn 45.9%
  • Emory 10.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Auburn 24.1%
  • Emory 40.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Auburn 1330
  • Emory 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • Auburn 28
  • Emory 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Auburn 3.97
  • Emory 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Auburn A
  • Emory A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Auburn Very High
  • Emory Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Auburn Low
  • Emory Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Auburn 26/31
  • Emory 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Auburn 1260/1390
  • Emory 1470/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Auburn Required
  • Emory Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Auburn Feb 1, 2027
  • Emory Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Auburn 21:1
  • Emory 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Auburn
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Emory
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Auburn 66%
  • Emory 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Auburn $54,100
  • Emory $81,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Auburn 73%
  • Emory 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Auburn $21,500
  • Emory $17,233
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Auburn $222
  • Emory $178

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Auburn 49%
  • Emory 39%
  • % Women
  • Auburn 51%
  • Emory 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Auburn Very Low
  • Emory Very High
  • HBCU
  • Auburn No
  • Emory No
  • % White
  • Auburn 84%
  • Emory 41%
  • % Asian
  • Auburn 2%
  • Emory 19%
  • % Black
  • Auburn 7%
  • Emory 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • Auburn 3%
  • Emory 8%
  • % Native American
  • Auburn 1%
  • Emory 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Auburn 0%
  • Emory 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Auburn 1%
  • Emory 3%
  • % International
  • Auburn 1%
  • Emory 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Auburn 1%
  • Emory 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Auburn 53%
  • Emory 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Auburn 46%
  • Emory 64%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Auburn Yes
  • Emory Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Auburn No
  • Emory No
  • Meal Plan
  • Auburn Yes
  • Emory Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Auburn No
  • Emory Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Auburn No
  • Emory Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Auburn University in Auburn, AL with Emory University in Atlanta, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Auburn University is larger than Emory based on total student enrollment (34,145 students vs. 15,175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Auburn University is located in Auburn, AL (Small City setting); Emory University is in Atlanta, GA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Auburn University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Emory University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Auburn University 21:1; Emory University 10:1.

Auburn vs. Emory Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Auburn or Emory? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Auburn University than Emory ($25,242 vs. $27,303).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Auburn University are 17.8% lower than at Emory University ($16,626 vs. $20,220).
  • Emory University is 398.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Auburn (about $51,390 more per year; $64,280.00 vs. $12,890.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.1% higher at Emory than at Auburn University (about $29,358 more per year; $64,280.00 vs. $34,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Auburn University than at Emory University (80% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emory University students is 418% larger than aid received by Auburn University students ($56,319 vs. $10,872).

Auburn vs. Emory Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Auburn or Emory? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Emory and Auburn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emory University (1510) is 180 points higher than at Auburn (1330).
  • Incoming Emory students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Auburn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 1260/1390; Emory University 1470/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Auburn University 26/31; Emory University 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Auburn - Required; Emory - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Auburn Feb 1, 2027; Emory Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Auburn students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Emory (3.8).
  • Auburn has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than Emory (10.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.1% at Auburn vs. 40.4% at Emory.

Auburn vs. Emory Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Auburn and Emory? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Emory University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Auburn University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Emory University earn a median of about $27,400 more per year than Auburn graduates about ten years after starting college ($81,500 vs. $54,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emory University graduates have a $4,267 lower median loan debt than Auburn graduates ($17,233 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Emory graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Auburn graduates ($178 vs. $222).
  • More Emory graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Auburn students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.