Elon vs. OWU

Deciding between Elon University and Ohio Wesleyan 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.

Elon University
Ohio Wesleyan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • OWU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • OWU 1,525
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • OWU #386
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • OWU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • OWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • OWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • OWU $53,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • OWU $53,888
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • OWU $14,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • OWU $23,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • OWU $45,481
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • OWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • OWU 6,144
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • OWU 3,416
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • OWU 55.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • OWU 12.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • OWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • OWU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • OWU 3.54
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • OWU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • OWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • OWU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • OWU 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • OWU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • OWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • OWU 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • OWU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • OWU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • OWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • OWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • OWU 44%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • OWU 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • OWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • OWU No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • OWU 70%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • OWU 3%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • OWU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • OWU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • OWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • OWU 5%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • OWU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • OWU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • OWU 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • OWU 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Elon University is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (7,239 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); Ohio Wesleyan University is in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1.

Elon vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or OWU? 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 Ohio Wesleyan University than Elon ($23,006 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Wesleyan University are 2% lower than at Elon University ($14,684 vs. $14,985).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Elon (about $6,930 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $46,958.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.8% higher at OWU than at Elon University (about $6,930 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $46,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Elon University (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 154.6% larger than aid received by Elon University students ($45,481 vs. $17,867).

Elon vs. OWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elon or OWU? 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 OWU and Elon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio Wesleyan University (1230) is 20 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming OWU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; OWU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; OWU Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 12.6% at OWU.

Elon vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and OWU? 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 Ohio Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elon University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than OWU graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Elon graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU 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.