AU vs. Elon

Deciding between American University and Elon University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Elon University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • Elon 7,239
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • Elon #140
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • Elon -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • Elon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • Elon $46,958
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • Elon $14,985
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • Elon $44,440
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • Elon $17,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • Elon 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • Elon 18,105
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • Elon 12,012
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • Elon 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • Elon 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • Elon 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • Elon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • Elon Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • Elon Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • Elon 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • Elon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • Elon 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • Elon 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • Elon $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • Elon 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • Elon $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • Elon $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • Elon 40%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • Elon 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • Elon Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • Elon No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • Elon 82%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • Elon 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • Elon 5%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • Elon 2%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • Elon 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • Elon 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • Elon 77%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • Elon Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • Elon No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • Elon Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • Elon No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • Elon No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Elon University in Elon, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Elon University is in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Elon University 11:1.

AU vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Elon? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Elon ($39,676 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 16.7% lower than at American University ($14,985 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Elon (about $11,813 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $46,958.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.2% higher at AU than at Elon University (about $11,813 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $46,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at American University (77% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 103.4% larger than aid received by Elon University students ($36,349 vs. $17,867).

AU vs. Elon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Elon? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Elon and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 160 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming AU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Elon University 1130/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Elon University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; Elon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 13.4% at Elon.

AU vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and Elon? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Elon University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elon University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, Elon graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($240 vs. $250).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.