Emory vs Southern California - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Emory awards international students $54,457 on average, Southern California awards $25,384.
Ten years on, graduates of Southern California earn noticeably more: $92K against $80K.
These admissions operate at different scales: Southern California reads 82,027 applications a year, its rival 34,614.
The price list does not separate these two: $68,056 and $68,687.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 10.29% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #62). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $80K). Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,056 vs $68,687 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Emory for: higher retention, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 10.29% acceptance); Emory has a higher median SAT (1510 vs 1495).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $80K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 91.1%).
Emory has lower sticker-price tuition ($68,056 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $67,329).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Emory | Southern California |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #62 |
| Rank · THE | - | #72 |
| Acceptance rate | 10.29% | 9.81% |
| Yield rate | 40.4% | 43.3% |
| Median SAT | 1510 | 1495 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.84 | 3.80 |
| Number of applications | 34,614 | 82,027 |
| International students | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $92K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $120K | $141K |
| Graduation rate | 91.1% | 91.8% |
| Retention rate | 96% | 95.6% |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $68,056 | $68,687 |
| Avg. aid package | $67,329 | $71,169 |
| % of need met | 99.9% | 99.3% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $24,562 | $27,678 |
| Application fee | $75 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 15,179 | 46,566 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Emory or Southern California?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Emory accepts 10.29% of applicants, while Southern California accepts 9.81%.
Do Emory or Southern California graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $80K.
How much is tuition at Emory vs Southern California?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,056 per year at Emory and $68,687 per year at Southern California.
What SAT score do you need for Emory or Southern California?
The median admitted SAT score is 1510 at Emory and 1495 at Southern California; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Emory or Southern California?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Emory vs #62 for Southern California.
Which university offers more financial aid - Emory or Southern California?
The average aid package is $67,329 at Emory and $71,169 at Southern California.
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