Private nonprofit · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Midsize suburb

Elon University

Elon, North Carolina. 6,452 undergraduates. Admits 66% of applicants.

81%Graduation rate27 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$35,785Average net price per year80% above the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$82,524Median earnings 10 years after starting40% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$19,500Median debt at graduation10% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($19,500) equals 24% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($82,524). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$20,986
$30,000–$48,000$21,272
$48,001–$75,000$21,374
$75,001–$110,000$30,529
Over $110,000$46,478

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $48,723.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate81%54%
Return for second year90%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$65,558$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$82,524$58,912
Median debt at graduation$19,500$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

67 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Programming—$84,029$128,080$21,375
Finance and Financial Management Services149$75,885$117,650$19,000
Marketing124$63,181$115,923$19,500
Accounting and Related Services42$76,951$115,654$22,250
International Business34$63,129$92,316—
Communication and Media Studies32$54,242$82,792$19,500
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other—$72,128$82,101$18,090
Political Science and Government70$44,446$81,375$19,500
Journalism45$46,855$79,453$23,250
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication119$43,619$76,864$20,767
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness102$44,501$76,674$19,500
Public Health39$40,495$73,364$22,250
Psychology, General100$43,395$73,214$19,500
Biology, General62$47,632$70,314$25,000
Economics30$64,049—$19,250
Community Organization and Advocacy——$62,545$13,000
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations31$60,654——
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods45$49,957$55,054$26,000
International/Globalization Studies17$49,370——
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians26—$47,204$22,250
Natural Resources Conservation and Research20$47,069——
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management21$45,706——
English Language and Literature, General25$39,786——
Visual and Performing Arts, Other—$31,621——
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication136———
Computer Science47———
Special Education and Teaching12———
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas1———
Engineering, General21———
Computer Engineering2———
Engineering Physics2———
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics11———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics6———
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies5———
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities3———
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology17———
Mathematics8———
Applied Mathematics7———
Statistics10———
Data Analytics3———
Outdoor Education11———
Philosophy3———
Religion/Religious Studies5———
Chemistry4———
Physics2———
Human Services, General22———
Anthropology5———
Sociology7———
Dance17———
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft32——$26,000
Fine and Studio Arts11———
Music6———
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing14——$29,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations42———
Human Resources Management and Services6———
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods60———
History13———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

66%Admission rate
1,208Average SAT of admitted students
23–28ACT middle 50%
11:1Students per faculty member
13%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does Elon University cost per year?
The average net price at Elon University, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $35,785 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Elon University graduates earn?
Former Elon University students earn a median of $82,524 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Elon University?
81% of Elon University students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Elon University graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Elon University is $19,500. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.