Elon vs. NC State

Should I go to Elon University or North Carolina State University at Raleigh? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elon or NC State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Elon University vs. North Carolina State University at Raleigh comparison
Elon University North Carolina State University at Raleigh College 3 College 4
Elon University North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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Overview

Elon NC State
Location Elon, NC Raleigh, NC
Setting Small Suburban Large City
Enrollment 7,123 36,700
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #116 #123
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elon.edu ncsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elon NC State
Tuition (In State) $41,734 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $41,734 $28,276
Room & Board $13,886 $12,748
Avg Net Price $41,527 $14,852
Avg Grant Aid $13,880 $9,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 71%

Admission

Elon NC State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,551 35,568
Admitted 13,069 16,779
Acceptance Rate 74.5% 47.2%
Enrolled % 12.9% 33.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.83
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 28/33
SAT Range 1170/1360 1280/1460
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 10, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Elon NC State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Elon NC State
Graduation Rate 82% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,200 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $20,782
Median Loan Payment $240 $214

Diversity

Elon NC State
% Men 40% 51%
% Women 60% 49%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 74%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Elon NC State
% In-State 18% 83%
% Out-of-State 80% 14%

Campus

Elon NC State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 7,123 students)

Elon vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or NC State?

  • Elon University is 538.6% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($41,734.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47.6% higher at Elon than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($41,734.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Elon ($14,852 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 8.9% lower than costs at Elon University ($12,748 vs. $13,886)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Elon University (71% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 51.2% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($13,880 vs. $9,181)

Elon vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elon or NC State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NC State or Elon .

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 53 points higher than at Elon (1211)
  • Incoming NC State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than NC State (47.2%)

Elon vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elon or NC State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NC State and Elon.

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (82% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn on average $1,000 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $56,200)
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $2,468 lower median federal student loan debt than Elon graduates. ($20,782 vs. $23,250)
  • NC State graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Elon graduates. ($214 vs. $240)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/