What SAT score do I need to get into Emory?

If you're targeting Emory University, understanding where your SAT score falls in their admitted student profile can help you assess your competitiveness and decide how to allocate your preparation time. While Emory takes a holistic approach to admissions, test scores remain a significant factor in demonstrating academic readiness, at least for students who choose to submit them.

The straightforward answer: aim for a score between 1500–1550 to position yourself competitively at both Emory College and Oxford College. But as with most aspects of elite admissions, the full picture is more nuanced. Your optimal target score depends on whether you're applying Early Decision or Regular Decision, which campus you're targeting, and how much incremental benefit you'll actually get from pushing your score higher.

Emory University consists of two undergraduate divisions: Emory College of Arts and Sciences on the main Atlanta campus, and Oxford College, a two-year liberal arts program located about 40 miles east. Both are highly selective, though their admission profiles differ slightly.

For the Class of 2029, Emory College admitted students with SAT scores ranging from approximately 1480–1540 at the middle 50%, with a median around 1510. The breakdown shows Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) scores of about 740–770 and Math scores of 760–800. The overall acceptance rate hovered around 10%, reflecting just how competitive admission has become.

Oxford College shows a similar profile, with admitted students' middle 50% ranging from roughly 1460–1550. EBRW scores clustered around 730–770, while Math scores fell between 750–790. Oxford's acceptance rate runs slightly higher at approximately 13%, but make no mistake, this remains a highly selective admissions process. Interestingly, about 59% of Emory applicants check both campuses on their application, meaning strong test scores can strengthen your candidacy at either institution.

Emory has maintained a test-optional policy for recent admissions cycles, which has meaningfully reshaped the score distributions. In one recent class, 31% of admitted students did not submit test scores at all. The result is that among those who do submit, the averages are elevated, students with scores below the competitive range often choose to apply test-optional instead.

For context, when testing was required, the 25th percentile SAT at Emory sat around 1400. In the test-optional era, that 25th percentile has risen to approximately 1470–1480 among students who submitted scores. This creates an interesting dynamic: if you have a score at or above Emory's middle 50% range, submitting it will likely strengthen your application. But if your score falls well below that range, say, in the low 1400s or below, going test-optional may be the wiser strategic choice.

Emory's official policy states that students won't be penalized for not submitting scores. In practice, however, a high score functions as a plus. If you achieve scores at or above the 50th percentile for Emory, those scores will likely strengthen your application.

The round in which you apply significantly affects how your SAT score will be evaluated. Early Decision at Emory provides a notable boost in admission odds, with ED acceptance rates running roughly twice as high as Regular Decision rates—in recent cycles, ED rates have ranged from 20–30% compared to 10–15% for RD. In one cycle, Emory admitted 974 students out of approximately 4,193 ED applicants, yielding about a 23% ED acceptance rate compared to the 10% overall rate.

This ED advantage means an applicant's chances improve even if their profile, including test scores, sits slightly lower than the typical admit. An applicant with a 1450–1480 might have a viable shot in ED, especially for Oxford College or if other application components are particularly strong, whereas in Regular Decision that same score would place them at the lower end of the admitted range.

However, don't assume Emory drops its standards in Early Decision. The admissions dean has explicitly noted that recent early pools were "the strongest and most competitive" experienced in Early Decision. Many ED admits still have high scores, plenty fall in the 1500+ range. The ED advantage exists at the margins, helping students whose scores are competitive but not exceptional.

Regular Decision presents a more competitive landscape because the majority of applicants apply RD and fewer spots remain after ED fills a substantial portion of the class. In this round, having a high SAT becomes more critical for standing out. An SAT score below the median of roughly 1500 will place an RD candidate at a relative disadvantage unless other aspects of their application are truly exceptional.

A 1480 falls around the 25th percentile for admitted students at Emory College, placing it near the lower end of the middle 50% range. For Oxford College, a 1480 sits closer to the middle of the admitted range, as Oxford's 25th percentile runs slightly lower at around 1460.

At Emory College, a 1480 won't make an application stand out academically on its own. An Early Decision applicant with a 1480 might have fair chances, especially if their GPA, course rigor, and essays are strong. In Regular Decision, however, a 1480 places an applicant below most admitted peers' scores, meaning the rest of the application would need to compensate more substantially.

The bottom line: 1480 is within reach for admission, particularly at Oxford or through Emory ED, but improving this score toward the 1500s would significantly strengthen your odds.

A 1520 falls around Emory's median admitted SAT, with the median for enrolled students sitting at roughly 1510–1520. According to admissions advisors, a score of 1500 or above positions applicants most favorably for admission at Emory. Crossing into the 1520+ range places you in a strong competitive position.

With a 1520, your SAT is no longer a weakness, it's a solid advantage. In Regular Decision, this score signals you meet or exceed the academic caliber of Emory's incoming class. In Early Decision, a 1520 demonstrates high academic achievement which, combined with the demonstrated commitment of ED, creates a compelling candidacy.

While admissions committees will still heavily weigh GPA, curriculum rigor, and other factors, at 1520 you've essentially checked the box for testing at Emory's level.

A 1550 exceeds the 75th percentile for Emory's admitted students. Only about one in four admitted students who submitted scores achieved 1550 or above. This represents an excellent score at the very top of Emory's range.

Once you reach 1550, your test score becomes a clear strength and will never be the reason for rejection. However, this is where diminishing returns begin to kick in meaningfully. Moving from 1520 to 1550 might still provide a modest positive effect, but it's a smaller gain compared to jumps at lower score levels.

A 1570 represents a near-perfect score at the 99th percentile nationally and sits at the extreme high end of Emory's admitted pool. Relative to a 1550, a 1570 offers negligible additional benefit. Both scores communicate the same message: this student's academic skills are exceptional.

Admissions experts frequently note that any SAT above approximately 1530 is viewed equivalently in elite admissions. Going from 1550 to 1570 is unlikely to change an admissions decision. That effort would be better invested in strengthening other application components.

Around 1530–1550 is where additional SAT points start yielding minimal returns in admissions likelihood. Improving from 1480 to 1520 raises your standing considerably, but improving from 1550 to 1570 does not appreciably boost your chances.

Dean of Admission John Latting notes that the high school transcript remains the most valued indicator of future success, with standardized test scores providing additional insight. This means that once an applicant has demonstrated academic strength through a challenging course load with strong grades and an SAT around 1500+, adding another 30 points on the SAT isn't going to make or break the decision.

For students targeting Emory College or Oxford College, the optimal range for SAT preparation focuses on reaching the low- to mid-1500s. Strive to break 1500 if you can. An SAT in the 1500–1550 range positions you as a strong candidate at Emory. If you're currently at 1480, investing effort to raise your score to 1520 will likely produce a noticeable admissions payoff.

On the other hand, if you're already around 1550, spending excessive time trying to hit 1570 or 1600 is unlikely to change your admissions fate. At that point, you'd be better served polishing your application essays, deepening your extracurricular impact, or pursuing meaningful activities.

The key takeaway: focus your energy on reaching that 1500–1550 range, then shift your attention to the components of your application that will actually differentiate you in a pool of academically qualified candidates.