Elon vs. Penn State

Deciding between Elon University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Elon vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or Penn 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 Penn State Main Campus than Elon ($27,889 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 3.4% lower than at Elon University ($14,474 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 127.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $26,314 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Elon than at Penn State Main Campus (about $5,168 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at Penn State Main Campus (77% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 57.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($17,867 vs. $11,336).

Elon vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elon or Penn 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 Penn State and Elon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 120 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Elon vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and Penn 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Elon University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $900 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elon University graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Elon graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($240 vs. $277).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)

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.