Emory University
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Emory Advantage, instituted in 2007, is Emory University's financial aid initiative to help students from families with total annual incomes of $100,000 or less who demonstrate a need for financial aid. The goal of the program is to make an Emory education attainable for any qualified student, regardless of income. Emory College Grant is a similar award provided in a student’s financial aid package that goes toward meeting demonstrated financial need. In addition, Emory is a partner of the QuestBridge program, which helps Emory to identify exceptional students. These students are often first generation college students or from a lower socioeconomic status and benefit from the Emory Advantage program.

The Division of Campus life has assembled a small working group to more proactively address students from low-income backgrounds or that may otherwise be in crisis. Further efforts are being developed to monitor the academic success of these students. For example, in the Division of Enrollment Services, we have a working group (named SOS—Supporting Our Students) looking at best ways to support these students through the enrollment process.

As a partner of QuestBridge, prospective low-income Emory students have access to online QuestBridge resources. One such resource is QuestBridge's online information about preparing and paying for college, accessible to prospective students through their online Student Resource web page. Emory also hosts special events for students of various ethnic and racial backgrounds, many of whom qualify as low-income. By staying overnight on campus, attending classes, and interacting with members of the Emory community, students leave with a better sense of what higher education is like. There are also conversations in progress to set up a mentoring program with Emory alumni.

Emory offers two scholarships that are available specifically for low-income students. Emory Advantage is the school's major scholarship program, which awards students from families making less than $100,000 per year the money they need to make an Emory education more affordable. Emory College Grant is a similar scholarship, awarded to students based on their demonstrated financial need. In addition, Emory participates in the Department of Education’s federal programs, like the Federal Pell Grant program and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant which are available only to low-income students.

Emory offers several programs directed at helping parents, including those of low-income students, with an introduction to the institution and higher education in general. Emory offers aid programs to organizations that target their members based on certain economic factors. The Essence of Emory program brings in African American and Latino families from the around the country, many of whom qualify as low-income. By spending time on campus and attending breakout sessions with Emory students and employees, students and parents alike learn more about the higher education experience at Emory, from admission to what it takes to graduate. Emory's WorkLife Program, run by the H.R. department, provides a general "Pay For College" workshop open to all Emory employees. Other workshops offered by the WorkLife program walk students and parents through the admissions process, campus employment opportunities, and more. These along with other events are used to offer information to the general public about Emory and insight into the general aid process.

QuestBridge is an initiative of the non-profit Quest Scholars Program that identifies high-achieving, low-income students nationwide, assists them with their applications and helps them connect with competitive colleges they would like to attend. Emory University is a member of a select coalition, including Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Columbia and Rice universities, as well as liberal arts colleges such as Bowdoin, Oberlin and Wellesley, that partner with QuestBridge. Through the College Match Program, high school seniors chosen as finalists have their names and applications submitted by QuestBridge to college “partners” during the early admissions cycle in lieu of submitting their applications directly to schools. The colleges then rank the students they are interested in, and the students rank their top-choice colleges. If there is a match, the student may attend the school and receive a scholarship package that includes full cost of tuition, books and room and board. Students who do not find a match during the early admission cycle may apply to their choices regular decision by completing the Common Application Supplement. Emory also hosts special recruitment and admission events for students of various ethnic backgrounds, many of whom qualify as low-income. By treating these students to several days of living in a dorm setting, eating in the dining hall among enrolled Emory students, and attending top-notch classes, Emory invests heavily in recruiting these students.

Emory uses the Common Application. Students may submit one application and $75 application fee for joint application to the Emory College and Oxford College (Emory's 2-year Associate's Degree undergraduate college). Considering that the application fee covers an application to two distinct programs, $75 is on the inexpensive end of the spectrum. Emory is a need-blind institution. A student's financial background plays no role in whether or not the student is admitted.

Other than need-based aid and merit awards, low-income students may qualify for the Emory Courtesy Tuition Benefit, under which dependent children of eligible Emory faculty and staff hired before January 1, 2003 may receive full-tuition scholarships minus the amount of the HOPE Scholarship and Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG). Employees hired after December 31, 2002 will receive graduated benefits based upon the employee's year of service. Students eligible for Courtesy benefits, who also receive Emory merit awards, cannot receive awards that exceed their eligibility. Courtesy awards are applied prior to Emory merit awards. Emory also participates in Federal Pell Grants and the Georgia Hope Scholarship for Undergraduate Georgia Residents.

Low-income students are eligible for a number of merit-based scholarships as well as qualifying for need-based aid. Merit awards are not selected by the Office of Financial Aid, but they can significantly decrease the cost of an Emory education for their recipients. Students who receive a merit award may renew that award for all four years, provided that they remain in high academic standing. Merit awards range from $1000/semester to full-tuition scholarships, and include the Emory Scholars Program, the Emory Opportunity Award, and National Merit Scholarships.

Some scholarships may be awarded to part-time students, but Emory does not offer any scholarships specifically for part-time students.

The Clifton School operates at two locations and provides full-time childcare to children (ages 6 weeks to 5 years) of Emory employees and full-time students. Currently, there is no subsidy available to assist students in affording childcare at the Clifton School. Emory also offers a program called the Emory Child Care Network, through which the school partners with 13 independent childcare organizations, all of which operate locations within 25 miles of campus (most are much closer). Some of those organizations offer discounts to Emory students, and Emory subsidizes tuition to others. Subsidies and discounts for Emory students range from a $200 waived application fee to a 15% tuition discount. Additionally, some of these childcare organizations offer priority admission to the children of Emory employees and students.

Emory operates the WorkLife Resource Center, an outlet for students and employees to find employment, learn more about how to juggle work and education, and seek financial counseling.