# Elon University

Private nonprofit college in Elon, NC. IPEDS ID 198516.
Source page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/elon-university · Data: https://educationguide.com/data/colleges/elon-university.json · Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score

## Key numbers
- Acceptance rate: 66% (Fall 2024, College Scorecard)
- Average net price after grants: $41,555 per year (AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25)
- Graduation rate (6 years): 84%; beats 89% of NC colleges and 92% nationwide
- Median earnings 10 years after starting: $74,545; beats 94% of NC colleges and 89% nationwide
- Median debt at graduation: $18,500

## Net price by family income (per year, after grants)
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $26,523 |
| 30-48k | $23,514 |
| 48-75k | $24,064 |
| 75-110k | $34,472 |
| 110k+ | $49,743 |

Average after grants for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid. Negative values mean grants exceed cost.

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
Graduates took 4.07 years on average (78% finished in 4 years; Fall 2017 entrants, IPEDS). Earnings gain = $74,545 (median earnings of former students 10 years after starting college (College Scorecard)) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $26,523 | $107,949 | 2.6 years |
| 30-48k | $23,514 | $95,702 | 2.3 years |
| 48-75k | $24,064 | $97,940 | 2.4 years |
| 75-110k | $34,472 | $140,301 | 3.4 years |
| 110k+ | $49,743 | $202,454 | 4.9 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Sticker price
- Cost of attendance: $62,266
- Tuition and fees: $46,958
- Housing and meals: $14,478; books: $900

## Admissions
- SAT reading & writing: 580–650; SAT math: 550–630; ACT: 23–28 (25th–75th percentile, Fall 2024)
- Fall 2023: 18,791 applicants, 12,649 admitted, 1,677 enrolled; test scores considered but not required
- Fall 2024: acceptance 66%, ACT 23–28 (College Scorecard)
- Fall 2023: acceptance 67%, ACT 23–28 (IPEDS Admissions)

### Common Data Set 2025-26 (Fall 2025)
- Very important: rigor, gpa, essay, recommendations, volunteer, work experience, interest; important: extracurriculars, talent, alumni relation; considered: class rank, character, first generation, geography, state residency
- Early decision: yes (304 of 353 admitted); early action: yes; waitlist: yes (98 admitted of 835 who accepted a spot)
- Average high school GPA of enrolled first-years: 3.88
- Aid (full-time first-years): average 73% of need met; 166 of 494 with need fully met; merit aid to students without need: 622 students, average $12,646
- Source: https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/1807/2026/04/ElonCDS2025-2026Final.xlsx

## Majors (68 bachelor's majors)
| Major | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $69,298 | $112,303 | $19,500 |
| Computer Programming | $79,819 | $111,448 | $19,500 |
| Accounting | $69,764 | $105,707 | $20,000 |
| Finance | $66,614 | $103,426 | $19,500 |
| Marketing | $55,893 | $95,163 | $21,500 |
| International Business | not reported | $91,132 | not reported |
| Political Science | $38,836 | $89,685 | $20,500 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $60,719 | $88,983 | $19,500 |
| Public Health | $42,088 | $81,153 | $20,500 |
| Entrepreneurship | $62,626 | $80,850 | not reported |
| Communications | $48,637 | $73,750 | $23,250 |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | not reported | $71,121 | not reported |
| Journalism | $34,105 | $69,964 | $19,875 |
| Psychology | $36,668 | $69,856 | $23,250 |
| English | $36,302 | $68,927 | not reported |
| International Relations | not reported | $68,262 | not reported |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $21,440 | $68,178 | $23,250 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $42,795 | $64,011 | not reported |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $47,095 | $63,041 | $20,000 |
| Broadcasting / Digital Media | $33,894 | $60,832 | $22,196 |
| Biology | $32,683 | $53,369 | $24,125 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies / Technicians | not reported | $53,185 | not reported |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Relations and Advertising | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Information Science / Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Computer Science | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Special Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Education (Subject Teaching) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biomedical Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Chemical Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Computer Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Engineering Physics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Environmental Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Engineering Chemistry | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Engineering, Other | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Writing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biochemistry | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Mathematics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Applied Mathematics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Statistics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| International / Global Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Data Analytics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Outdoor Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Philosophy | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Religious Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Chemistry | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Physics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Human Services | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Administration | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Policy Analysis | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Anthropology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Sociology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dance | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Theatre | $24,345 | not reported | not reported |
| Studio Art | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Music | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Arts and Entertainment Management | $32,413 | not reported | $26,544 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $18,903 | not reported | $24,526 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Nursing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Business Administration | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Human Resources | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Management Science / Analytics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| History | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Major to career
- Communications → Public relations specialist: median wage $59,150 (Burlington, NC), $67,230 (NC), $74,750 (U.S.)
- Finance → Financial analyst: median wage $82,530 (Burlington, NC), $102,390 (NC), $102,740 (U.S.)

## Sources and years
- Net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; cost of attendance: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; tuition: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; earnings: Treasury AY2009-10, AY2010-11 pooled cohort measured in CY2020, CY2021, inflation adjusted to 2022 dollars; debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
- Major earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).
