Which has a more diverse student community, Emory or Rutgers?

The biggest practical difference is scale: Rutgers-New Brunswick’s much larger, public-university student body creates a broader mix of racial and ethnic identities, family incomes, New Jersey communities, ages, and life circumstances, while Emory offers a smaller and more residential campus where it may be easier to form a close daily circle. Rutgers also draws heavily from one of the country’s most diverse states, and its commuter, transfer, first-generation, and nontraditional students add to the range of perspectives visible on campus.

At Rutgers, diversity is likely to feel embedded in ordinary campus life, from classrooms and dining halls to student organizations, cultural events, and the surrounding New Brunswick area. The tradeoff is that the campus is large and decentralized, so students can remain in familiar social or cultural circles unless they actively branch out.

Emory has substantial racial, ethnic, and international diversity, along with a strong set of cultural, religious, and identity-based organizations. Its Atlanta location also gives students access to a major, diverse city.

For the widest overall range of backgrounds and the most visibly varied everyday student population, Rutgers is the clearer choice. Emory can still provide a diverse, globally oriented community, particularly for someone who values a more intimate campus environment and wants diversity within a smaller residential setting.