Elon University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Elon, North Carolina. It enrolls 6,452 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes90
Value12
Affordability3
Selectivity64
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 66.4%, Elon University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
66.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1130 – 1280
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Elon University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
11.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Elon University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $41,555 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$41,555
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
10%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
24%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$46,958
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,985
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,985
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$62,266
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
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
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$20,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$27,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $1,000
No Pell $17,500
↓ $3,000
Female students $18,500
↓ $2,000
Male students $18,030
↓ $2,470
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($20,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
14% of full-time students who enrolled at Elon University graduate within six years, and 90% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
14%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
90%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Elon University earn a median of $74,545 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$74,545
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$59,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$57,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,000, about 13% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Elon University is home to 6,452 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
6,452
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
9%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.7%4,881
Hispanic 7.2%465
Black 5.2%338
Other 3.4%221
Asian 2.2%143
International 1.8%119
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Elon University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbElon, North Carolina
Housing
Mostly residential4,196 beds on campus
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Elon University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
60 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Elon University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$838M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,716
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
497 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
96
19%
$115,459
Associate Professors
169
34%
$92,981
Assistant Professors
147
30%
$82,301
Instructors
6
1%
$58,167
Lecturers
79
16%
$73,931
Pros & Cons of Elon University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Elon University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Elon University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elon University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Elon University.
Is Elon University hard to get into?
Admissions at Elon University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 66.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Elon University?
Elon University has an acceptance rate of 66.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Elon University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Elon University scored between 1130 and 1280 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Elon University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Elon University scored between 23 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Elon University cost?
The average net price after aid at Elon University is $41,555 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Elon University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $74,545 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $41,555 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Elon University known for?
Elon University is best known for its programs in Public Relations, Marketing, Radio, Television & Digital Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Elon University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Elon University are $74,545, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Elon University accredited?
Yes. Elon University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Elon University?
Elon University enrolls 6,452 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Elon University?
Elon University graduates 14% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Elon University a public or private college?
Elon University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Elon University located?
Elon University is located in Elon, North Carolina.
What programs does Elon University offer?
Elon University offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Public Relations, Marketing, Radio, Television & Digital Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Elon University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Elon University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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Rankings That Feature Elon University
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