Is Emory or Washington University in St. Louis better for studying global health as an undergraduate?

The biggest practical difference is that Emory places an undergraduate interested in global health inside Atlanta’s unusually dense public-health ecosystem, including close connections to the CDC and Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. Washington University offers excellent health-related research and a major academic medical center, but its undergraduate global-health pathway is less centered on a dedicated public-health environment. For coursework, research access, and public-health-oriented networking, Emory has the clearer built-in advantage.

At Emory, students can pursue global-health-focused interdisciplinary study through the Global Health, Culture, and Society program and take relevant courses across Emory College and Rollins. The Emory Global Health Institute supports global-health research and programming, while Atlanta can make internships, speakers, and faculty connections in epidemiology, infectious disease, health policy, and humanitarian work more accessible. That proximity does not guarantee a CDC role, but it creates a particularly strong local pipeline for a student who proactively seeks research and internships.

WashU remains a compelling option, especially for someone drawn to the biomedical side of global health. Its Institute for Public Health, Global Health Center, and School of Medicine can connect undergraduates with faculty work in areas such as infectious diseases, implementation, and health equity. It may be especially appealing if you want global health to sit alongside strong pre-med preparation, lab research, or engineering and data-oriented work rather than serve as the central framework of your undergraduate experience.

For the specific goal you described, Emory is the stronger choice. Its formal undergraduate global-health curriculum, public-health school, and Atlanta location create a more direct route to the coursework, mentors, and applied experiences that define the field.