Elon University Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

Total Cost of Attendance

Elon University, located in North Carolina, is actually designated as a botanical garden, and it includes the 56-acre Elon University Forest, which is a land preserve for scientific research. But this institution isn’t just a beautiful place. It’s also known for being one of the “best-run colleges,” according to The Princeton Review.

Elon University tuition in 2023-24 was $44,536 for undergraduates. This is about equal to the national average for private undergrad tuition of $43,350.

Financial Aid

To help with the cost of Elon tuition, 75% of students use financial aid, whether that’s student loans, grants, scholarships, or all of the above. For example, 9% of Elon students were awarded Pell Grants, federal funding given to undergraduates who have exceptional financial need.

Elon University is “need-blind,” which means even if you can’t afford to pay out of pocket, it won’t impact your application.

Explore financial aid options: North Carolina Student Loan & Scholarships.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

A number of students at Elon take out student loans to help pay for the cost of their education. This includes federal student loans, which 28% of students took out in the 2022-23 academic year, and private student loans, which 7% of Elon students obtained. These private student loans averaged $31,244 per student per year.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

Based on 2023-24 costs, the Elon price for four years of undergrad tuition, fees, room and board, books, and other expenses would be $250,056. This is slightly higher (3.5%) than the national average for four years at private universities, which is $241,680.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

The cost of Elon is the same for students who live in state and those who are residents of other states. The price of Elon tuition and fees for undergraduates in 2023-24 was $45,436.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Those looking to attend grad school may want to explore their options at Elon. The cost to attend graduate school at Elon University was $20,574 in 2023-24. This is lower than the national average cost of graduate school tuition and fees, which is $21,730 per year.

There are graduate loans to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Elon offers students the opportunity to go to school part-time to earn their degree. For those taking less than 12 credit hours, which is considered part-time, the cost per credit hour at Elon University is $1,479. Part-time students also pay reduced fees, including the Student Activity Fee and the Health and Wellness Fee.

Certificates

Elon University’s Love School of Business offers certificates to students related to their field of study. These include technical skills, human resources, and learning and project management certification.

Each certification requires a different number of hours or courses. Students interested in these certificates can learn more by contacting the university.

Campus Housing Expenses

At Elon, all first- and second-year students are required to live on campus. There are eight different residential neighborhoods on campus, each with a cluster of residences and common spaces around a certain theme or set of interests that students can choose.

For upperclass students who choose to live off campus, there are many affordable housing options nearby.

Elon University Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Elon is fairly high. For example, in the fall of 2023, the Elon University acceptance rate was 67%. That means of the 18,791 students who applied, 12,590 of them were accepted to the school.

Admission Requirements

Students who are planning to apply to Elon University will need to submit the following required materials. Other materials, specifically standardized test scores, are recommended, but not required.

Required:

•   Official high school transcript

•   Application essay

Optional:

•   SAT or ACT scores

•   2 letters of recommendation

The deadline for Early Decision at Elon is November 1, with a decision given by December 1 for binding decisions and December 20 for nonbinding decisions. The Regular Decision deadline is January 10, with a decision given by March 20.

SAT and ACT Scores

Although standardized test scores are not required at Elon, it can be helpful for those interested in applying to the university to see scores submitted by students in prior years.

Here are the scores at the 25th and 75th percentile submitted to Elon by students in the fall of 2023.

Popular Majors at Elon University

At Elon University, there are more than 70 majors for students to choose from. Here are 10 of the most popular ones.

1. Strategic Communications

In this program, students learn how organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies communicate through public relations and advertising. Students have the option to study abroad.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 150

2. Marketing

The Marketing program at Elon focuses on three areas: professional selling, supply management, and digital marketing. Students can also get real-world experience through internships.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 131

3. Finance

Finance majors learn about key finance principles and how financial markets and institutions function worldwide. Graduates go on to careers in banking, corporate finance, financial planning, asset management, insurance, and real estate.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 125

4. Psychology

Coursework in the Psychology program includes Lifespan Development, Social Psychology, Adult Psychopathology, Sensation and Perception, and Psychology of Learning.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 120

5. Cinema & Television Arts

The creative students in this program learn about writing and previsualization, visual aesthetics, audience analysis, content distribution, and content production for diverse types of media.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 65

6. Political Science and Government

Political Science students develop communication and analysis skills while learning about theories of politics and political systems and forces in communities. They also gain real-world experience in the processes of public policy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 60

7. Exercise Science

Majors can focus on Exercise Physiology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Motor Control, or Biomechanics. Courses include Neuromotor Control, Medical Terminology, and Human Anatomy.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 47

8. Media Analytics

The first major of its kind, this program teaches the practice of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data for various media platforms to uncover actionable insights. Students gain the skills and expertise to become data-driven decision makers in the media industry, by diving into topics from Netflix viewership trends to analyzing TikTok and Instagram influencers.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 46

9. Sport Management

This program trains students for careers in professional sports, college athletics, recreation, and sport-related agencies. They take courses that include Research Methods in Sport Management, Sport Sales and Promotion, and Sports and Media.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 39

10. Accounting

Elon’s accelerated 3+1 dual-degree program that allows you to earn a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Accounting in four years.

Undergraduate degrees in 2022-23: 31

Graduation Rate

While many students graduate from Elon with their degrees in four years, others require more time to complete their studies, such as six years or eight years. Here are the graduation rates for students who started at Elon University in the fall of 2017:

•  4 years: 78%

•  6 years: 83%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Elon graduates tend to go on to fairly well-paying jobs. After completing an undergraduate degree at Elon University, alumni typically earn, on average, $75,545. This is significantly higher than the national average salary for the class of 2024, which is $68,516.