Elon vs. NC State
Deciding between Elon University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? 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.
Elon University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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Overview
- Elon
- NC State
- Location
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Elon Elon, NC
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NC State Raleigh, NC
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- Setting
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Elon Small Suburban
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NC State Large City
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- Total enrollment
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Elon 7,239
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NC State 38,464
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- Type
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Elon Private 4 Year
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NC State Public 4 Year
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- National Ranking
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Elon #140
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NC State #124
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- Religious Affiliation
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Elon -
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NC State -
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- Status
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Elon Non-profit
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NC State Non-profit
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- Team Colors
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Elon
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NC State
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Cost
- Elon
- NC State
- Tuition (In State)
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Elon $46,958
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NC State $8,799
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- Tuition (Out of State)
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Elon $46,958
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NC State $32,847
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- Room & Board
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Elon $14,985
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NC State $14,332
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- Average Net Price
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Elon $44,440
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NC State $15,522
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- Average Grant Aid
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Elon $17,867
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NC State $11,675
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- % Receiving Grant Aid
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Elon 77%
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NC State 51%
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Admissions
- Elon
- NC State
- Applied
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Elon 18,105
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NC State 44,047
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- Admitted
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Elon 12,012
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NC State 18,385
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- Acceptance Rate
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Elon 66.3%
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NC State 41.7%
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- Enrolled
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Elon 13.4%
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NC State 31.8%
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- Typical SAT score
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Elon 1210
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NC State 1390
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- Typical ACT score
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Elon 25
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NC State 30
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- Average High School GPA
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Elon 3.65
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NC State 3.83
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- Typical High School Grades
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Elon A-
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NC State A-
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- Admissions Standards
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Elon Challenging
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NC State Very High
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- Applicant Competition
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Elon Low
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NC State Low
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- ACT Range
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Elon 23/28
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NC State 28/32
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- SAT Range
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Elon 1130/1280
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NC State 1300/1470
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- Submit Test Scores
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Elon Test optional
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NC State Test optional
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- Application Deadline
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Elon Jan 10, 2027
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NC State Jan 15, 2027
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Academics
- Elon
- NC State
- Student to Faculty Ratio
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Elon 11:1
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NC State 15:1
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- Popular Majors
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Elon
- Business (22%)
- Communication (19%)
- Social Sciences (15%)
- Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
- Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
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NC State
- Engineering (22%)
- Business (13%)
- Biology (11%)
- Agriculture (9%)
- Social Sciences (5%)
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Outcomes
- Elon
- NC State
- Graduation Rate
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Elon 82%
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NC State 72%
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- Median Earnings (After 10 years)
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Elon $56,200
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NC State $57,200
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- Making Student Loan Payments
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Elon 86%
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NC State 76%
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- Median Student Loan Debt
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Elon $23,250
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NC State $20,782
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- Median Loan Payment
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Elon $240
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NC State $214
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Diversity
- Elon
- NC State
- % Men
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Elon 40%
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NC State 50%
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- % Women
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Elon 60%
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NC State 50%
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- Racial Diversity
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Elon Low
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NC State Low
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- HBCU
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Elon No
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NC State No
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- % White
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Elon 82%
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NC State 74%
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- % Asian
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Elon 2%
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NC State 5%
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- % Black
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Elon 6%
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NC State 6%
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- % Hispanic
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Elon 5%
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NC State 5%
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- % Native American
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Elon 0%
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NC State 0%
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- % Pacific Islander
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Elon 0%
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NC State 0%
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- % Two or More Races
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Elon 2%
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NC State 4%
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- % International
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Elon 2%
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NC State 4%
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- % Unknown Race
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Elon 1%
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NC State 2%
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Students
- Elon
- NC State
- % In-State
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Elon 21%
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NC State 86%
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- % Out-of-State
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Elon 77%
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NC State 12%
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Comparable Facts
Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 7,239 students)
Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio
- Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
- Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.
Elon vs. NC State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Elon or NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Elon ($15,522 vs. $44,440).
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 4.4% lower than at Elon University ($14,332 vs. $14,985).
- Elon University is 433.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $38,159 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $8,799.00).
- Out-of-state tuition is 43% higher at Elon than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $14,111 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $32,847.00).
- A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (77% vs. 51%).
- The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 53% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($17,867 vs. $11,675).
Elon vs. NC State Admissions comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Elon or NC State? 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 NC State and Elon.
- The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 180 points higher than at Elon (1210).
- Incoming NC State 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: Elon University 1130/1280; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
- Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
- Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
- Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
- 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 (66.3%) than NC State (41.7%).
- The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 31.8% at NC State.
Elon vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
How do outcomes compare for Elon and NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
- Graduates from North Carolina State University at Raleigh earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,200 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
- Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $2,468 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($20,782 vs. $23,250).
- Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.