Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Elon University #1227 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,253 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Elon University in the 25.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Elon University #186 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Elon University #1227 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Elon, NC, Elon University enrolls roughly 6,452 undergraduates. Retention is 89.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 84.0%, placing the institution among the stronger performers nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Elon University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Elon University #186 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,253 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Elon University in the 25.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields, which consistently deliver solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Elon University sits in the 20.3 percentile for access and the 5.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 9.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 9.1% are first-generation college students, reflecting a more selective admissions posture typical of private institutions in this peer band. Mobility outcomes rank in the 0.8 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's access profile limits the breadth of low-income student enrollment and the scale of upward-mobility impact.
Elon University's published cost of attendance is $62,266. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $26,523, middle-income families pay around $24,064, and higher-income families pay approximately $49,743. Azimuth ranks Elon University #1354 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions. Elon participates in federal need-based aid programs and institutional aid, with financial aid packages reshaping the sticker price for most students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,609; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,800, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Elon University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private university experience in NC, with outcomes that place it in the 17.2 percentile for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,800, placing Elon University in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,253 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 25.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls 9.9% of undergraduates as Pell recipients and 9.1% as first-generation students, with a 16.3% Pell graduation rate. The published net price for higher-income families is $49,743, with median federal debt at graduation of $20,500. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 66.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business (29% of degrees). Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to NC's no-degree baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Elon University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Elon University's published cost of attendance is $62,266. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $26,523, middle-income families pay around $24,064, and higher-income families pay approximately $49,743.
Azimuth ranks Elon University #1354 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap matters when comparing institutions.
Elon participates in federal need-based aid programs and institutional aid, with financial aid packages reshaping the sticker price for most students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,609; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,800, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Elon University earn median 4-year earnings of $77,800, placing the institution in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,253 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Elon University in the 25.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Elon University #186 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Elon University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication is the largest program with 176 graduates and anchors the institution's economic profile. The Finance program graduates 152 students earning median 4-year earnings of $103,426, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field.
The Digital Marketing program graduates 122 students with median 4-year earnings of $95,163, at 1.4x benchmark, while Psychology, General and Kinesiology round out the top programs with 111 and 108 graduates respectively, earning $69,856 and $68,178 at 1.4x and 1.2x benchmark performance.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George Mason University Higher acceptance rate (21.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 89% | $76,343 | Compare |
University Of Scranton Higher acceptance rate (17 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 84% | $74,652 | Compare |
High Point University Same state (29 miles away) (earnings difference: 17.6%) and similar program focus; same institution type | NC | 77% | $61,389 | Compare |
Hampden-Sydney College Same region (97 miles away) with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | VA | 50% | $67,640 | Compare |
Wake Forest University Same state (43 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | NC | 22% | $78,158 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of New England Similar quality tier (#33311 ranked) | ME | 92% | $55,921 | #33311 | Compare |
The University Of Findlay Similar quality tier (#33841 ranked) | OH | 83% | $56,996 | #33841 | Compare |
Florida Southern College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32779 ranked) | FL | 64% | $55,294 | #32779 | Compare |
Anderson University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#33850 ranked) | SC | 55% | $42,101 | #33850 | Compare |
Vassar College Similar quality tier (#33851 ranked) | NY | 19% | $71,366 | #33851 | Compare |
Economics
44 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
56 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
152 graduates
Marketing
122 graduates
International Business
36 graduates
Elon University's program mix is anchored in business, communications, and professional fields—a portfolio aligned with the institution's career-focused identity. Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication is the largest program with 176 graduates, followed by Finance, Digital Marketing, Psychology, General, and Kinesiology.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,776 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes that align with the institution's applied-professional orientation. The earnings leaders reflect Elon University's strength in business and quantitative fields.
Accounting graduates earn median earnings of $105,707 four years after enrollment with 56 graduates, while Finance graduates earn $103,426 and Digital Marketing graduates earn $95,163. Political Science and Public Health round out the highest-earning cluster with graduates earning $89,685 and $81,153 respectively.
These outcomes reflect both the institution's concentration in Business and related professional fields, and the direct-to-workforce pathways that characterize these majors. The program distribution—with Business representing 29%, Social Sciences at 8%, and Arts at 6%—positions Elon University as a professional-degree-oriented institution where graduates enter stable, well-defined career pathways.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with national labor-market demand and wage growth trajectories.
