Elon University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Elon University is a private institution located in Elon, North Carolina with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Elon University admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 63%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1270. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $41,555 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Elon University?

59% of enrolled students at Elon University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.88, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Elon University weight in admissions?

Elon University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Elon University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 550–630, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–28. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Elon University actually cost?

Published tuition is $46,958 for in-state students and $46,958 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,985 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $41,555 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 10% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Elon University

Will my child graduate from Elon University?

These predict outcomes at Elon University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Elon University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Elon University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Finance and Financial Management Services and Marketing. Across all programs, Elon University confers roughly 948 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $106,904 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Elon University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Elon University disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Elon University?

About 70% of undergraduates at Elon University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 20% of men join a fraternity and 39% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in North Carolina parents ask about

• High Point University
  75% acceptance
• Duke University
  6% acceptance
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  15% acceptance
• Wake Forest University
  22% acceptance
• North Carolina State University at Raleigh
  42% acceptance
• Appalachian State University
  90% acceptance
• East Carolina University
  89% acceptance
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  80% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Elon University