Agree that cheaper isnt always better. A friend’s son went to UAH as a stem major. Enjoyed it but socially it was a bad fit for him (he is Jewish and the population is small).
I have heard, in the past, that some Emory students had a derogatory name for the students that started at Oxford. I hope that is inthe past. Emory is a great school and Atlanta is a great city. There is a shuttle that brings Oxford students to the Emory campus, but yes, the Oxford/Covington area is a bit unexciting.
Keep in mind that if you need hours at a hospital, there are several on/near the Emory campus (Emory hospital, the rehab hospital, the geriatric hospital, the VA, etc). IMO Emory would be the better choice.