Emory University Goes Tuition-Free For Families Making Less Than $200,000

Starting fall 2026, Emory University is rewriting what college access means in Atlanta and beyond. Any student whose family earns $200,000 or less will now attend tuition-free.

The new Emory Advantage Plus scholarship signals a direct response to the barrier that keeps so many students from crossing campus gates: the price tag.

“When students sit at the kitchen table with their parents to discuss college, I don’t want finances to be a consideration,” Interim President Leah Ward Sears said. “If they qualify to come to Emory and they want to come to Emory, we will make sure they can afford Emory.” 

What’s changing?

• All new and returning domestic undergrads qualifying for need-based aid—and whose household income falls below $200,000—are eligible for the new full-tuition award.
• Families just submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile as usual. Emory factors in typical assets, and answers from the Financial Aid office are coming later this year.
• Emory maintains its policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated need for all domestic undergrads.

Is it a big deal? Here’s the data:

• Currently, about 3,100 undergrads—around 40% of the student body—get Emory Advantage aid.
• Of those, 60% already see scholarships covering all or more than their tuition. In 2026, scholarships meeting or beating tuition will cover 80% of Advantage students.
• Emory puts nearly $438.7 million annually toward grants and scholarships for students across all programs.
• For Georgia residents, the offer stacks with state programs like HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships, which cover nearly 95% of Emory’s Georgian undergrads.

The original Emory Advantage started in 2007, expanding in 2022 to cut out need-based loans altogether—replacing them with institutional grants and scholarships. Now, Emory Advantage Plus turns that vision up to full volume: zero tuition for undergrads whose families make $200k or less.

Why does it matter now?

College tuition is a top reason students give up on their top-choice campus or face years of debt. University officials say the university’s endowment—and the ongoing generosity of alumni and donors—makes moves like this possible.

• Georgia Will Pay $6,500 Per Year For Private School: Here’s How to Get it
• Georgia Promise Scholarship Launches New Website
• Which Georgia college is the best value?