Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Elon University vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 24 programs with available earnings data.
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Elon University.
Accounting and Related Services. leads business & economics with 106K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services. | — | $105,707★ | — | 56 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | — | $103,426 | $75,602 | 152 |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
| Marketing. | — | $95,163 | $76,007 | 122 |
| International Business. | — | $91,132 | — | 36 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. | — | $80,850 | — | 42 |
Public Health. leads health with 81K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health. | — | $81,153 | — | 48 |
Biology, General. leads sciences & mathematics with 53K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | — | $53,369 | — | 29 |
Economics. leads social sciences & policy with 112K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | — | $112,303★ | — | 44 |
| Political Science and Government. | — | $89,685 | — | 89 |
| Psychology, General. | — | $69,856 | — | 111 |
Communication and Media Studies. leads communications with 74K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies. | — | $73,750★ | $60,115 | 38 |
| Journalism. | — | $69,964 | — | 33 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | — | $60,832 | — | 107 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians.Small sample | — | $53,185 | — | 11 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. leads humanities & arts with 71K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.Small sample | — | $71,121★ | — | 11 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | — | $68,927 | — | 28 |
| Dance.Small sample | — | $30,771 | — | 13 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. | — | $29,685 | — | 32 |
| History.Small sample | — | $26,353 | — | 15 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | — | $21,508 | — | 39 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. leads education with 63K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | — | $63,041★ | — | 45 |
| Special Education and Teaching.Small sample | — | $39,369 | — | 11 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research. leads agriculture & environment with 61K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | — | $61,399 | — | 21 |
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. leads other & interdisciplinary with 68K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | — | $68,178 | — | 108 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
