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Private 4-Year Moderately Selective Elon, NC NCAA Division I-FCS

Elon University

Elon, NC

66.3%
Acceptance Rate
$65,443/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$41,555/yr
Avg Price After Aid
83.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
6,452
Undergrads

About Elon University

Elon University is a private nonprofit institution located in Elon, North Carolina, situated in a midsize suburb. The university has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 6,452 students and maintains an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Type
Private 4-Year
Undergrads
6,452
Avg Faculty Salary
$94,816
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FCS
Endowment
$365.5M
Pell Students
9.9%
First-Gen
9.1%
What Elon University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Communication Management and Strategic... 117 graduates · 7.9% of degrees here vs 0.06% nationally 140×
Radio and Television 48 graduates · 3.3% of degrees here vs 0.17% nationally 19×
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 62 graduates · 4.2% of degrees here vs 0.32% nationally 13×
Finance 134 graduates · 9.1% of degrees here vs 2.13% nationally
Marketing/Marketing Management 117 graduates · 7.9% of degrees here vs 2.06% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
66.3%
Acceptance rate · Moderately Selective
18,791
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$41,555 avg net
Average net price after aid
$26,523
Under $30K income
$365.5M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$58,082 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
83.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
$20,500
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Elon University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
66.3%
18,791 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
11:1
Undergrad instruction

Elon University has an acceptance rate of 66.3%, indicating moderate selectivity where roughly two-thirds of applicants gain admission. This acceptance rate suggests the institution considers a substantial portion of applicants qualified for enrollment.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 18,791 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1130–1280
40080012001600
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 7,173 4,700 65.5% 694
Women 11,618 7,949 68.4% 983
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Elon University admits 66.3% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 74%.

Acceptance rate
This school
66.3%
Similar colleges (1,009)
73.8%
NC (59)
74.7%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Elon University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$41,555
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$20,500
Federal Loan Rate
24.5%
Students borrowing federal loans

Elon University's cost of attendance is $65,443, while the average net price students pay is $41,555. Students with financial aid typically pay considerably less than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$65,443
Tuition & Fees
$46,958
72%
Room & Board
$14,985
23%
Books & Supplies
$900
1%
Other Expenses
$2,600
4%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$26,523
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,514
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,064
$75,001 – $110,000
$34,472
Over $110,000
$49,743

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
92%
Federal loans
24%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $217.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Elon University costs $41,555 a year — about 84% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$62,266
Similar colleges (1,094)
$49,718
NC (122)
$20,308
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (20)
$24,809
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
92.2%
Similar colleges (998)
91.8%
NC (96)
87.6%
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (18)
90.9%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$20,500
Similar colleges (1,032)
$24,977
NC (106)
$19,094
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (19)
$22,858
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$41,555
Similar colleges (1,105)
$22,585
NC (149)
$14,086
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (26)
$14,954
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Elon University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
83.5%
Median Earnings 6yr
$58,082
6 years after entering

Elon University has an 83.5% graduation rate. Graduates earn a median of $58,082 six years after entry and $74,545 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$59,995
Men
$55,742
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
81.9%
Pell recipients
83.6%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Finance, General134
Communication Management and Strategic...117
Marketing/Marketing Management, General117
Psychology, General92
Biology/Biological Sciences, General62
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia62
Political Science and Government, General55
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management51
Exercise Science and Kinesiology50
Radio and Television48
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Black
86.6%
White
84.3%
Asian
83.3%
Hispanic
81.8%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Elon University are $65,954, and 80% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Elon University students earn $58,082 — 28% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$74,545
Similar colleges (1,077)
$54,064
NC (140)
$35,871
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (25)
$36,337
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$58,082
Similar colleges (1,077)
$45,468
NC (145)
$31,394
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (25)
$30,884
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
83.5%
Similar colleges (1,074)
58.1%
NC (57)
49.2%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
90.1%
Similar colleges (1,117)
76.6%
NC (60)
73%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Elon University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Elon University is a private nonprofit institution located in a midsize suburb in Elon, North Carolina. The undergraduate student body comprises 6,452 students, with women representing 59.3% of enrollment and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
75.7%
Asian
2.2%
Hispanic
7.2%
Black
5.2%
Other Indicators
First-generation
9.1%
Pell grant recipients
9.9%
Women
59.3%
Elon University Athletics
Total Revenue
$12.9M
Total Expense
$12.9M
Athletes
541
247 men · 294 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$197,584
Women's sports
$109,211

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$7,176,650
Women's aid
$5,778,292
Academic Resources
501
Full-time faculty
$94,816
Avg faculty salary
4,123
FT staff
$365.5M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$98,728
Women (avg)
$91,101
Overall avg
$94,816
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
6,452
Graduate students
787
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
7.2%

451 of 6,248 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
0%
Undergrads taking any
0%
Grad students fully online
0%

0 of 6,402 undergraduates study entirely at a distance.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Elon University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
9.9%
Similar colleges (1,171)
32.8%
NC (152)
39.3%
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (26)
45.1%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$9,828
Similar colleges (1,164)
$6,264
NC (120)
$6,693
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (20)
$6,728
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
11:1
Similar colleges (1,191)
12:1
NC (152)
13:1
Greensboro--Winston-Salem--High Point, NC (26)
14.5:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Elon University
65 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
1,472 graduates
Business and Marketing 431 grads · 10 majors
Finance, General 134
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 117
Management Science 43
Accounting 39
International Business/Trade/Commerce 32
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 26
Project Management 24
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain... 7
Human Resources Management/Personnel... 6
Business Administration and Management,... 3
Communication and Journalism 287 grads · 5 majors
Communication Management and Strategic... 117
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 62
Radio and Television 48
Journalism 42
Mass Communication/Media Studies 18
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 109 grads · 3 majors
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 51
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 50
Outdoor Education 8
Psychology 92 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 92
Social Sciences 86 grads · 4 majors
Political Science and Government, General 55
Economics, General 21
Sociology, General 6
Anthropology, General 4
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 79 grads · 2 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 62
Biochemistry 17
Visual and Performing Arts 76 grads · 10 majors
Dance, General 17
Arts, Entertainment, and Media... 15
Musical Theatre 13
Acting 11
Art/Art Studies, General 5
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 4
Music, Other 4
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and... 4
Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other 2
Music Performance, General 1
Health Professions 48 grads · 2 majors
Public Health Education and Promotion 34
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 14
Education 46 grads · 4 majors
Elementary Education and Teaching 38
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School... 5
Early Childhood Education and Teaching 2
Health Teacher Education 1
Computer and Information Sciences 43 grads · 1 major
Computer Science 43
Communications Technologies 26 grads · 1 major
Recording Arts Technology/Technician 26
Engineering 25 grads · 3 majors
Engineering, General 21
Computer Engineering, General 2
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics 2
English Language and Literature 24 grads · 2 majors
English Language and Literature, General 21
Professional, Technical, Business, and... 3
Mathematics and Statistics 20 grads · 3 majors
Statistics, General 8
Mathematics, General 7
Applied Mathematics, General 5
Natural Resources and Conservation 18 grads · 2 majors
Environmental Science 13
Environmental Studies 5
Public Administration and Social Services 17 grads · 1 major
Human Services, General 17
Multidisciplinary Studies 14 grads · 2 majors
International/Globalization Studies 13
Data Analytics, General 1
History 12 grads · 1 major
History, General 12
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 6 grads · 3 majors
Classics and Classical Languages,... 3
French Language and Literature 2
Spanish Language and Literature 1
Physical Sciences 5 grads · 2 majors
Chemistry, General 4
Physics, General 1
Philosophy and Religious Studies 5 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 3
Religion/Religious Studies 2
Liberal Arts and General Studies 3 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 3
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Elon University Location & Campus Safety

Elon University is in Elon, NC, in what IPEDS classifies as a midsize suburb setting. The campus sits about 0.3 miles from the center of Elon. There are 5 other colleges within 25 miles, and Greensboro, NC is 17.9 miles away.

Elon University Other colleges within 30 miles
Midsize suburb
Campus Setting
0.3 mi
To City Center
5
Colleges Within 25 mi
11,325
Elon Population
Living in Elon
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,584
Median Rent / mo
$82,717
Median Household Income
51%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
70.8%
Walk
15.2%

Alamance County scores 6.5 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — below average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 45.5% of Elon's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near Elon University
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, Elon University to each campus

Campus Safety at Elon University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Elon University reported for 2024.

12
On-Campus Offenses
9
In Residence Halls
1.7
Per 1,000 Students
11
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
36
2023
22
2024
12
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
7
Burglary
2
Motor vehicle theft
2
Aggravated assault
1

Separately, Elon University reported 28 arrests and 197 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Elon University admissions, costs, and outcomes.