National university
#10 Best colleges in North CarolinaElon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $41,555 a year
Median debt at graduation: $20,500 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#65 of 950
- Best colleges for nursing in America#80 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#85 of 1,132
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#142 of 1,829
- Best colleges for marketing in America#70 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#146 of 1,563
Show 18 more
- Best colleges for education in America#132 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#124 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#76 of 744
- Best colleges in America#223 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#176 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#194 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#179 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#170 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#176 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#170 of 1,187
- Best mid-size colleges in America#99 of 667
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#181 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#180 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#175 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#169 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#127 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#136 of 749
- Best colleges for economics in America#173 of 788
In North Carolina
- Best colleges for marketing in North Carolina#1 of 23
- Best colleges for business in North Carolina#4 of 49
- Best colleges for accounting in North Carolina#3 of 34
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in North Carolina#4 of 42
- Best colleges for finance in North Carolina#2 of 19
- Best colleges for psychology in North Carolina#6 of 51
Show 18 more
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in North Carolina#7 of 55
- Best colleges for education in North Carolina#6 of 47
- Best colleges for English in North Carolina#6 of 47
- Best colleges for history in North Carolina#6 of 45
- Best colleges for mathematics in North Carolina#6 of 45
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in North Carolina#7 of 50
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in North Carolina#6 of 42
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in North Carolina#6 of 42
- Best colleges for chemistry in North Carolina#6 of 41
- Best colleges for nursing in North Carolina#5 of 33
- Best colleges for art and design in North Carolina#6 of 39
- Best colleges for music in North Carolina#7 of 44
- Best test-optional colleges in North Carolina#9 of 54
- Best colleges in North Carolina#10 of 55
- Best colleges for economics in North Carolina#5 of 25
- Best mid-size colleges in North Carolina#3 of 12
- Best colleges for computer science in North Carolina#6 of 24
- Best colleges for engineering in North Carolina#5 of 17
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.84%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.90%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,208 · ACT 25.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.11 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$19,988
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $62,266 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 6,402 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 41% · Women 59% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 9% |
| Total students | 7,207 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $41,555 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $62,266 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 84% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 16% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 14% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 83% |
| First-year retention | 90% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $74,545 |
| Admission rate | 66% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $60 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 10% |
| Average SAT | 1208 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 580–650 |
| SAT math | 550–630 |
| ACT composite | 23–28 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Solid (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Economics | |
| Programming | |
| Accounting | |
| Finance | |
| Marketing | |
| International business | |
| Political science | |
| Other business, management, marketing, and related support services | |
| Public health | |
| Entrepreneurship | |
| Communication studies | |
| Romance languages | |
| Journalism | |
| Psychology | |
| English | |
| International relations | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | |
| Teacher education | |
| Broadcasting | |
| Biology | |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Anthropology, Applied mathematics, Arts management, Biochemistry, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Business administration, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Clinical laboratory science, Computer engineering, Computer science, Dance, Data Analytics, Engineering (general), Engineering Chemistry, Engineering Physics, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Fine arts, General studies, Global studies, History, Human resources, Human services, Information science, Liberal arts, Management science, Mathematics, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Nursing, Other engineering, Other visual and performing arts, Outdoor Education, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Philosophy, Physics, Public Policy Analysis, Public administration, Public relations, Religious studies, Secondary education, Sociology, Special education, Statistics, Theatre, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Communication | |
| Parks, recreation and fitness | |
| Psychology | |
| Social sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 3% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $14,985 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Colonial Athletic Association |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 11 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 10%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 82%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $45,435IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 66% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)About 24 miles away |
| Nearest major airport | Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)About 43 miles away |
| Town population | 11,032Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | GreensboroAbout 18 miles away |
| Typical weather | 41°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Burlington Alamance Airport, NC, about 4 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.14 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.28 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.28 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Elon University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 13% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Elon University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $41,555 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Elon University?
- Elon University admitted 66% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Elon University’s graduates do?
- 84% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $74,545; the median federal debt at graduation is $20,500.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 198516
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Elon vs Adelphi · Elon vs Quinnipiac · Elon vs Sacred Heart · Elon vs St. John Fisher
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