Emory University

Atlanta, GA · founded 1836 · 14,500 students · private research university · NCAA Division III (UAA - University Athletic Association)

Known for: Emory is renowned for its top-ranked medical and public health programs, close ties to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and substantial Coca-Cola endowment connections. It is consistently ranked among the top 25 national universities with a strong emphasis on undergraduate teaching and research.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #24
QS World: #155
Times Higher Education: #82
ARWU Shanghai: #101
Forbes: #41

Top programmes

Medicine
Public Health
Nursing
Business (Goizueta)
Law
Neuroscience

Notable alumni

Newt Gingrich — Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Kenneth Cole — Fashion designer and founder of Kenneth Cole Productions
Sanjay Gupta — CNN Chief Medical Correspondent and neurosurgeon
Tom Price — Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
Alben W. Barkley — 35th Vice President of the United States
John C. Portman Jr. — Renowned architect and real estate developer
Kara Swisher — Technology journalist and podcast host

Traditions

Dooley Week (spring celebration with skeleton mascot)
Wonderful Wednesday (weekly stress-relief events)
Songfest (annual musical competition)
Homecoming on the Quad

If Emory University were…

As a food: Coca-Cola (the original 1886 formula) — Born in Atlanta, globally recognized, and inseparable from the city's identity—just like Emory, which was literally built on Coca-Cola money. Both are sweet, Southern, and more complex than they first appear, with a lega
As an athlete: Chipper Jones — Atlanta Braves legend who was consistently excellent, beloved locally, and respected nationally without ever being the flashiest name in the game. Emory students are the same—hardworking, successful, and deeply rooted in
As a person alive today: Sanjay Gupta (CNN Chief Medical Correspondent) — Emory-trained neurosurgeon who became a trusted public health voice, blending medical expertise with media savvy. He embodies Emory's brand: smart, service-oriented, health-focused, and committed to making a difference w
As a historical figure: Asa Griggs Candler (Coca-Cola magnate) — The man who bought Coca-Cola for $2,300 and turned it into a global empire, then poured his fortune into Emory, transforming it from a small Methodist college into a research powerhouse. Emory's entire modern identity is
As a movie or TV show: Grey's Anatomy — Medical drama filled with ambitious, attractive people obsessing over surgeries, relationships, and career advancement in a high-stakes hospital environment. Emory pre-meds live this life daily—minus the on-call room hoo
As a US president: Jimmy Carter — Deeply principled, service-oriented, Southern, and forever associated with Georgia. Carter's library is on Emory's campus, and his legacy of humanitarianism and public health perfectly captures Emory's institutional valu
As a city: Geneva — Home to the WHO, Red Cross, and countless global health NGOs—just like Emory, which partners with the CDC and dominates public health research. Both are wealthy, international, focused on medicine and diplomacy, and a bi
As an element: Oxygen — Essential for life, foundational to medicine and biology, and absolutely everywhere even if you don't always notice it. Emory is the oxygen of pre-med culture—ubiquitous, life-sustaining, and quietly powering the entire
As a car: 2021 Lexus ES 350 — Emory offers the refined, collaborative luxury of a Lexus—polished pre-professionals in Atlanta's leafy suburbs, strong on reliability (med school placement), and just prestigious enough without the ostentatious edge. It

Campus life

Emory has a collaborative, pre-professional atmosphere with strong Greek life presence (about 30% participation) and active volunteer culture. The campus is known for being friendly and inclusive with diverse student organizations and a focus on service learning. Students balance rigorous academics with social activities, though the campus can feel quieter on weekends as many students explore Atlanta.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if Emory University were a movie or TV show?” with Grey's Anatomy (2005). Medical drama filled with ambitious, attractive people obsessing over surgeries, relationships, and career advancement in a high-stakes hospital environment. Emory pre-meds live this life daily—minus the on-call room hookups (probably). It sits in the 32nd percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.