Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Elon University is a private national university located in Elon, North Carolina. Elon University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Elon University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $64,238 10 years after enrolling, 4th in North Carolina, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Elon University bachelor students earn 18% more than the national average. Elon University is ranked 14th in North Carolina.
Elon University’s median net annual cost of $38,122 and average years to graduate of 4.1 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Elon University sorted by number of graduates - Finance, Marketing, Psychology, Health & Fitness, Poli Sci/Government, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$38,122
Average years to graduate
4.1
Journalism
Rank: #43
Economic score: 4.13
Economics
Rank: #256
Economic score: 4.54
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #185
Economic score: 4.54
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #91
Economic score: 5.76
Education
Rank: #304
Economic score: 7.89
Biology
Rank: #512
Economic score: 14.57
Drama
Rank: #97
Economic score: 20.91
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Rank: #24
Economic score: 31.57
Public Health
Rank: #134
Economic score: 47.86
History
Rank: #391
Economic score: 100.21
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 3 graduate programs at Elon University - Business Administration, Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment , Broadcast & Digital Comms - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.1 years. 84% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Elon University is 28% higher than the state average, and 17% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Elon University, Pell Grant recipients represent 9% of the measured graduating class, 26% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Elon University graduates within 4.2 years.
Elon University is in the bottom 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Elon University’s economic mobility score of 6.54 is calculated by adjusting the 2.33 economic score of lower-income students by the 9% pell grant recipients within the student body. Elon University’s EMS of 6.54 ranks in the bottom 10% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 10%
The average Title IV recipient at Elon University pays $38,122 a year, $16,440 less than the $54,562 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $38,122
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Elon University, 67% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $38,122 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 32% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $10,226. This is 22% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,259
Pell grants
$4,759
State grants
$6,211
Institutional grants
$12,510
Elon University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 78% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 17,834 applicants, of which 13,859 were admitted and 1,591 enrolled. Elon University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
58%
59%
First time
92%
59%
In-state
19%
68%
1st generation
9%
35%
White
80%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
6%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
6%
12%