Founded in 1889, Elon University. is a Private college. Located in North Carolina, which is a city setting in North Carolina, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 6,008 full time undergraduate students, and 731 full time graduate students.
The Elon University Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 12:1. There are 425 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Elon University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
60%
Application Deadline
1-Nov
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
1100-1280
ACT Range
25-29
Admissions at EU are considered Selective, with ,67% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 15 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
94% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 67% were in the top quarter, and 32% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Elon University.
4%
“We”re apathetic”
34%
“We know about current events and vote”
54%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
25%
“Sometimes, but not often”
48%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
20%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
10%
“I only go out in groups”
31%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
58%
“I feel extremely safe”
42%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
47%
“We bought the gear”
10%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
23%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
28%
“They keep regular office hours”
67%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
7%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
68%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
23%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
43%
“We only party on weekends”
52%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
7%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
43%
“There might be people who do”
41%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
8%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
4%
“We”re apathetic”
34%
“We know about current events and vote”
54%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
25%
“Sometimes, but not often”
48%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
20%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
10%
“I only go out in groups”
31%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
58%
“I feel extremely safe”
42%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
47%
“We bought the gear”
10%
“We live for the big game”
5%
“It”s not really our thing”
23%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
55%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
28%
“They keep regular office hours”
67%
“They”re always available”
1%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
7%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
68%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
23%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
137 Students rated on-campus housing 4 stars. 29 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
83 Students rated off-campus housing 4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
138 Students rated campus food 3.7 stars. 22 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
138 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 59 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
138 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 68 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
138 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 49 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
138 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 29 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
138 Students rated academics 4.3 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.
Elon University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Elon University?
45 Students rated Elon University
Solene
I’ve only been here for a semester but I love the feel of the campus and the quality of the academics - the small class sizes really add to the education I feel I am getting. They are currently expanding but so far the campus is easily accessible except for maybe the health services which aren’t so localized.
Ayanna
I think overall it's a pretty good school but It could definitely be a lot better. To start the housing is great depending on where you live. Some dorms are newly renovated with suite style bathrooms and kitchens others are run down and in need of rejuvenation. The classroom facilities are pretty good as well as the professors but it often depends on the department.
Chloe
Buyer BEWARE. This faux educational institution is not what polished tour guides and faculty members portray it it to be. Unfortunately, I was psychologically conditioned to fall instantly in love with Elon's seemingly sprawling campus, vibrant social life, fine dining and top notch educations, however, once the last tire tracks from parents' vehicles disappeared from the manicured streets of the step-ford like town, the facade dissipated and I saw Elon in its true form as a haven for mentally deficient students accustomed to nothing other than wealth or hereditary privilege and have an aversion to hard work.
The vast majority of the students are drunken, mentally deficient imbeciles who are already addicted to drugs at 18 and spend their weekends drowning in clouds of smoke or choking on their own vomit due to alcohol poisoning. When I envisioned the college experience, I was excited at the possibility of meeting young scholars with intellectual fervor, a firm grasp on world issues and the competency to debate the musings of Aristotle concerning democracy, Plato's Theory of Forms or Meta-ethics, instead, I was greeted by close-minded, insolent, supercilious individuals clinging to a deluded sense of self importance.
To my dismay, the professors at Elon cosign the idiotic behavior of students by coddling them and catering to their demands. For instance, in one of my courses the students thought that having to create discussion questions on their own to review for a test was "too much" so the professor ceased this activity. The students complained further about how hard the tests were and asked for specific answers to test questions so that they would not have to work as hard, which was unbelievable in my opinion! Education is characterized by stepping outside of your comfort zone and completing tasks that make you uncomfortable.
Furthermore, Elon's professors are incompetent with low self-esteem themselves and posses little competency in educational techniques. I knew more than many of my instructors, who were routinely intimidated by my knowledge and attempted to break my spirit. I was regularly infantilized and condescended to, making me feel like I was in a public high school were a teachers' word is law and there is little room for free thought.
Socially, the students are exclusionary and hostile. I attempted to say hello to a group of girls in an attempt to make friends and was blatantly ignored as well as laughed at, bringing back visions of the middle school lunchroom which I loathed. It is difficult to have a friend circle if you abstain from drinking, smoking and have religious or strong moral principles. Many of the clubs advertised are not active, but look great on paper if you plan to attend graduate school, so there is nothing to do on the weekends. The school has a movie theater, although the movies shown are either decades old or unappealing. On top of that, some dining halls are closed for a day or two on weekends and short breaks, especially the only vegan dining hall on campus, leaving students with dietary restrictions stranded. Most of the students that I encountered were Liberal, which is fine, however, I did not appreciate being given dirty looks/talked about poorly behind my back for carrying a Chick-fil-a bag or expressing a reasonable opinion that countered the majority of the class.
Please do not misunderstand my grievances. I harbor no prejudice against wealthy or economically privileged young adults as I believe that we are all privileged in some form. My qualms are with the entitled and obnoxious behavior specific to the culture of Elon's students. I attended a private high school which costs upwards of 26,000 a year, yet, the majority of the school's attendee's were polite, humble and down to earth intellectuals who valued education.
If you are highly intelligent, value your mental health and desire to grow, please do not come to Elon! You will regret it and waste thousands of valuable dollars as the financial aid department leaves much to be desired. Thankfully, I realized that one semester was enough and transferred out of this God forsaken University. I have recovered from this hideous experience, and am grateful that the damage to my psyche was not more extensive.
This is NOT a real university for serious students.
I love most the close-knit environment. The professors are very helpful and usually willing to go out of their way to make sure you have the chance to succeed. The campus grounds are also very well-maintained. Officially designated as a botanical garden, the campus boasts a botanical variety, contributing greatly to the university's beauty. I could go on and on about the educational supports from Disabilities Resources to the Writing Center. The price is a bit high, but if you can afford it and/or are able to secure a significant enough scholarship, I would recommend Elon to anyone interested in a liberal arts education with a school that treats you like family.
Sage
I LOVE ELON! The campus is beautiful, and the people are great. Elon really tries to give you the perfect college experience. There is always something to do, whether it is participating in extra-curricular activities, going to late night events, or attending parties. I would 100% recommend Elon to anyone looking for an artsy liberal arts college environment.
Sage
I LOVE ELON! The campus is beautiful, and the people are great. Elon really tries to give you the perfect college experience. There is always something to do, whether it is participating in extra-curricular activities, going to late night events, or attending parties. I would 100% recommend Elon to anyone looking for an artsy liberal arts college environment.
Gregory
Overall Elon University does do a good job with it's classes as well as how it structures them, Along with having a special set of classes to help you during your first year, Elon makes sure that academics is one of the first things in mind. Being an active citizen is also highly encouraged and there are plenty of ways to give back to the community. It is mainly filled with students who are out of state, however the atmosphere is still just as friendly as the rest of NC.
Victoria
I love being at Elon due to the groups that I have associated with being incredibly friendly and active. Whether I want to go out and have fun or if I want to stay in and watch my floormates play Warframe, I know that I am going to be welcome. I almost never feel the need to go off-campus for anything due to the campus having so many things to do!
Kayla
Overall Elon University is a good school that gives a quality education. The professors are great, and the class sizes are small so teachers can give a more hands on approach to learning. Sports and Greek life is big but not to big that you’ll feel left out if you don’t participate. Although there is a low level of diversity on campus. There are groups such as CREDE that help students feel included. Overall a great school and beautiful campus.
Terrell
I have visited Elon University several times and I admire the atmosphere. Everyone is welcoming and friendly. The arts program is outstanding. I have seem a couple of plays and shows. I believe Elon University is one of the most beautiful campuses in NC.
Unique
I think Elon University is a great school. Everybody is very welcoming and accepting, at least in my experience. The staff and faculty are always nice and helpful whenever can be. The professors are very passionate in helping us learn. I enjoy how the campus is overall supportive in the student and faculty's physical and mental health. A lot of organizations and clubs are based upon getting up and out to stay energetic and overall refreshed and relaxed. I truly enjoy this university and I am glad I chose it, and they chose me, to be a part of the campus.
Elliott
Elon University is an excellent learning institution where personal relationships between professors and students are forged. Everyone is working towards a common goal of educational success and individual excellence. The community is really something special.
Madeleine
Elon University is a great place to be. There is an air here that's always positive and it's so easy to find a home here on campus. The academic opportunities and resources that are available an unmatched, and I have grown so much throughout my time here. There's a certain culture here that is definitely on par with typical college life, but there are a number of unique experiences and people on campus to allow you to spread your wings. Varsity sports are on the rise, student government association is working hard to offer fun activities for students, Greek life is present and offers a great community for those who want it and is still respectful of those who don't, there are too many clubs and club sports to count the opportunities are endless, and Elon is unmatched in its dedication to offering students experiential learning opportunities such as internships, research, and traveling abroad. I knew I made the right decision when I chose to come here the second I stepped on campus, and I have not doubted it once in my 3 years on campus so far. i have become a tour guide on campus because I feel so strongly that Elon is the place to be!
Martin
The campus is beautiful. There are a lot of students who are serious about school. Students party hard during the weekends and study during the weekdays. It is also very preppy and is predominately white (85-90%). A lot of the students come from wealthy families and can be very pretentious. Additionally, if you are a minority, you will probably experience some or a lot of racism, whether it is students driving by yelling racial slurs or suitemates' microaggression.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Elon University is 60%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Look at ALL possibilities. See the big schools and the small ones. Look at urban vs. rural. look at diverse schools and homogenious ones. When I looked at schools I never even considered looking at a big school, but now i feel suffocated by the mear 5,000 on my campus. People grow and change so much in the fist year of college, and that growth also needs to be taken into account. Look at where you have come from and think about where you want to go. Its important that you not only see yourself at a school your freshman year, but for all four years of the traditional college education. Choose with your head, but also your heart.
My classmates can be really cold in the classroom because everyone wants to be the smartest person in class. But outside of the classroom they transform into your best friend, especially if they need help with something.
Overall as a school I love Elon. The students there are incredibly friendly and the campus is outrageously beautiful. It is a great size so you will most likely see someone you know on the way to class, but can also meet new people all the time. The one thing I would change is the heavy security. Elon is trying to change its appeal as a party school by increasing the number of security, and as a result cited almost half of the incoming freshman clas. In my building every suite has been busted with the exeption of one.The town of Elon is very small if you are looking for a bustling urban setting this is not for you. The town is basically the college with a few resturaunts and bars, but personally I like it this way because there is not a lot of distractions and older people always around campus. The biggest contraversy on campus was the public masturbater, who last year almost every weekend got away after exposing himself to a girl. There is a lot of school pride and almost everyone I met loves the school, but there is not a lot of pride in the sports team and althought you can get into the games, most people dont.
The academics at Elon are suprisingly rigorous. Students work several hours a day on work almost every day. The classes are small with no more than thirty students in one class. You get to know your proffesor and they are very friendly and approachable. My favorite class this year was World Religions because in this class, like many of my classes, the teachers are more concerned about intelectual discussion and theory more than memorizing facts and taking tests all the time. My major is Environmental Science and although it is a newer feild of study, Elon has done a fantastic job staying current with environmental issues, technologies, and theories. I enjoy going to class and I feel that it adequately prepares me for a proffessional career after college.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
You can choose to make Elon the experience you want to and Elon offers hundreds of programs and activities to suit the interests of all of its students. If there isnt a group that reflects something you are passionate about it is easy to start a new organization. It is an incredibly safe campus and students regualrly leave their doors open or unlocked. Athletic events are not that popular but Elon gets great guest speakers and are almost always sold out or booked. The theatre department is also really good and the productions are fantastic. Students at Elon don't usually date as much as students I have heard about at other schools but "hooking up" is prevalent on campus. As a member of a fraternity I would say that it is a large part of the social scene but there is a wide variety of fraternities and sororities that appeal to all kinds of interests. If you are not interested in a fraternity you can still have fun and there are many parties and other activities for non-greek students. Unfortunately Elon is located in the middle of nowhere and the nearest large city is twenty minutes away so most activities are on-campus.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
Partly, although I do beleive students on campus drink more than the average person, I dont beleive this is that much different from any other college. Also it is easy to have a good time without drinking and there is many activities to do as alternatives to drinking. Also while some students do try harder drugs it is not a large number and Elon is cracking down on all drug use.
The professors are some of the most intelligent and intruiging people I have ever encountered. They are well established in their respective fields and are excited to bring their knowledge into the classroom. For the most part, they are willing to work with students and make themselves VERY available to students. For me, the excellence of the faculty has made my Elon experience as valuable as it is.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
The typical Elon student has a hunger for knowledge, a zest for life, and is firm in their beliefs. If a student does not have these core values they will probably not want to attend Elon University.
This school is a liberal arts institution. They also provide a school for communications, business, and other areas of interest. This scool provides many diverse and open opportunities.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
The campus is absolutley beautiful! Its kept in perfect condition all the time, regardless of how the students treat it, there are always people to pick up after things students leave behind.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
At this time since I am a nontraditional student who is going to be taking classes on line the most frustrating thing is that there is not the personal interaction that I was use to at a traditional school. I have had mostly a good experience with the online registration. My biggest frustration is that there is not a lot of clear discription as to working all of the computer systems in order to get started ealy for the onlien class.
The best Elon tradition is Leo Lambert’s, our president’s, Holiday party. He invites all students to his house, the week before winter break, for a Christmas party. There is great food, caroling and you can wait in line to have your picture taken with Leo. THEN he mails it home to your family in a Christmas card. Such a good PR move! Another fun Holiday tradition is the luminaries, when all the campus comes out for free hot chocolate, caroling, and the lighting of the campus. It’s always a fun way to wrap up the fall semester and welcome the holidays.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
63% of students attending Elon University receive some sort of financial aid.
7% were awarded federal grants.30%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
