Living in Atlanta
Attending Candler gives you the opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the Southeast. Let us help you find the resources you need to start your Atlanta chapter!
Neighborhoods and Culture
Atlanta is an inspiring place to live, an engaging place to study, and an exciting place to be! Candler’s hometown is a big city made up of the most welcoming neighborhoods you’ll ever find—each with its own vibe. We’ve got walkable, tree-lined neighborhoods, local and international farmers markets, seasonal festivals, and friendly people. It’s a place of optimism and global connection, of rich history and prophetic voice, of genre-bending arts and Grammy-winning music. There’s something for everyone in Atlanta.
Please note
The content on this page has been collected specifically for Candler School of Theology students. If you are not a Candler student, please refrain from using the listed resources. Please take care and use your own instincts when deciding on housing.
Candler Preferred Housing
Formation Communities
Candler’s Formation Communities program combines intentional living, spiritual formation, and affordable housing across the city of Atlanta, providing students with a unique opportunity to live and grow in faith alongside their peers.
Learn more
Columbia Friendship Hall
Columbia Friendship Hall is an apartment building designated specifically for Candler students. It’s located in a wooded, historic neighborhood a short drive from campus, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments are both affordable and quiet.
The Ridge
The Ridge is Emory’s brand new, fully furnished, on-campus housing for graduate and professional students. Students love living at The Ridge due to its walking-distance proximity to Candler and roommate matching service.
Learn moreFinding Your Home Sweet Home
Whether this is your first time searching for housing or you’re an old pro, we have some tips as you plan your move.
Tip number 1: Finding just the right spot in Atlanta and its surroundings can take a minute, so start your search early.
Tip number 2: Familiarize yourself with Emory’s location in Atlanta at large—look for the dark blue shield on the map of Atlanta neighborhoods at left. You can download the map to help you decode real estate listings now and then keep it handy for later as you explore what each neighborhood has to offer.
Tip number 3: When considering housing options, don’t forget to factor in commute time. As you’ll find in most American cities, traffic is real here and must be worked into the equation.
Tip number 4: Attend one of our Digital Info Sessions on Housing. You’ll hear from current students about their housing search, learn more about housing opportunities, and have your questions answered by our Housing Coordinator. Check out the Admissions Events calendar to register for the next session.
Tip number 5: Once you’ve been accepted to Candler, fill out the Housing Survey so our Housing Coordinator knows how to best help you navigate your relo to Atlanta.
The Office of Residence & Housing off-campus housing finder is the official Emory University website resource for rooms and apartments near Emory.
This is a self-service site, so we are not able to answer questions regarding listings, but we are happy to be a resource to help you make the best choice possible. Please reach out to our Housing Coordinator Katie Dobbins if you have any questions.
If you are interested in posting a rental opportunity for Candler students, please complete the Off-Campus Rental Form and return by email to candleradmissions@emory.edu or fax to (404) 727-2915. If approved, your listing will be posted for 90 days. After 90 days, you must notify us by email if you wish to extend your listing; otherwise, it will be removed and you will need to submit a new request.
We’ve got several resources available to help you plan your move to Atlanta. Check out our Affording Candler page for information about the cost of attendance and employment opportunities.
Once you’re admitted, schedule some time to meet with Tayler Johnson, Candler’s Associate Director of Financial Aid and Admissions, to discuss your plan for financing seminary. Whether you discuss external scholarships, employment, or budgeting, these talks are designed to help you make smart financial decisions and set you up for success as you begin your seminary journey.
Getting Around Atlanta
All the resources to help you plan ahead! Find out all the different ways to get to and around the Emory campus, from bikes and buses to cars and more.
Emory Parking Services
If you choose to drive your own car to campus, note that parking on the Emory campus is either designated for visitors or requires a valid permit. Visit Emory’s Parking Services site for information on parking registration, locations, rates, and parking rules and regulations.
Park-and-Ride Shuttles
Emory’s free Park-and-Ride Shuttles pick up and drop off commuting students in five different areas of town, including South Dekalb Mall. You can park your car for free and catch the shuttle to campus.
Georgia Commute Options
Emory works closely with Georgia Commute Options to offer programs and incentives to help make your commute easier. Visit Emory’s Transportation Services site for information on carpool, vanpool, public transportation, and the Emory shuttle system.
Emory Shuttle System
The Emory Shuttle system is free for students and offers routes to and from various apartments, hospitals, shopping centers, malls, the Clairmont campus, and many other locations. See if there’s a shuttle stop near your home.
Bike Emory
Emory Transportation and Parking Services also provides resources for bicycles.
Learn where to ride and where to park your bike, where you can get it fixed, and even how to rent a bike if you don’t have one.
MARTA
MARTA, Atlanta’s public bus and rail service, has stops throughout the city, including two bus routes that run daily through campus.
Check out rates, learn about multiple ways to pay, and find a stop near you.
Candler Firsthand
Meet your new neighbors—other Candler students who’ve made Atlanta their home base.
“Throughout my undergraduate studies at Emory College, I fell so deeply in love with the school, the Atlanta community, and Georgia as a whole that I was determined to stay. The opportunities to experience arts and culture, nature and outdoor activities, a diverse range of cuisines, and--what I love most, a loving community that cares for one another--make me want to stay in Atlanta forever.”
Sophia Chenault
MTS ’27
“Coming from Chicago, my housing search was a journey. When my mother and I found The Ridge, we knew this was the spot for me. The building is filled with fellow graduate students and has a community center! But since it's not a dorm, the community aspect was not quite fostered in the ways I was used to. So the development of the Formation Community at the Ridge allows us to intentionally gather weekly, forging deeper bonds with our Candler classmates and becoming better neighbors.”
Laurence Minter
MDiv ’27
“While attending the admissions tour, I immediately felt that Candler could be my new home. I was accepted into two top-notch divinity schools but Candler was my first choice. Not only is the campus beautiful, as a graduate student I get to live on campus in the new graduate apartments to have an impactful and rich experience.”
Tina Willoughby
MARL ’27
“Throughout my undergraduate studies at Emory College, I fell so deeply in love with the school, the Atlanta community, and Georgia as a whole that I was determined to stay. The opportunities to experience arts and culture, nature and outdoor activities, a diverse range of cuisines, and--what I love most, a loving community that cares for one another--make me want to stay in Atlanta forever.”
Sophia Chenault
MTS ’27
