Elon vs. Tennessee

Deciding between Elon University and The University of Tennessee Knoxville? 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
The University of Tennessee Knoxville

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Tennessee Knoxville, TN
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Tennessee Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • Tennessee 38,728
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • Tennessee Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • Tennessee #226
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • Tennessee -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Tennessee Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • Tennessee

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tennessee $13,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tennessee $33,256
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • Tennessee $13,356
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • Tennessee $21,648
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • Tennessee $11,434
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • Tennessee 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • Tennessee 59,764
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • Tennessee 24,863
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Tennessee 41.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Tennessee 27.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • Tennessee 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • Tennessee 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • Tennessee 3.66
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • Tennessee A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • Tennessee Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • Tennessee Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • Tennessee 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Tennessee 1200/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • Tennessee Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • Tennessee

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • Tennessee 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Tennessee
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • Tennessee 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • Tennessee $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • Tennessee 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • Tennessee $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • Tennessee $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • Tennessee 46%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • Tennessee 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • Tennessee Low
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • Tennessee No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • Tennessee 79%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • Tennessee 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • Tennessee 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • Tennessee 3%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • Tennessee 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • Tennessee 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • Tennessee 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • Tennessee 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with The University of Tennessee Knoxville in Knoxville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (38,728 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); The University of Tennessee Knoxville is in Knoxville, TN (Midsize City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Knoxville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 18:1.

Elon vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or Tennessee? 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 The University of Tennessee Knoxville than Elon ($21,648 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville are 10.9% lower than at Elon University ($13,356 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 240% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tennessee (about $33,146 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $13,812.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.2% higher at Elon than at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (about $13,702 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $33,256.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Tennessee Knoxville than at Elon University (94% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 56.3% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Knoxville students ($17,867 vs. $11,434).

Elon vs. Tennessee Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Knoxville (1290) is 80 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming Tennessee 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; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 1200/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; The University of Tennessee Knoxville 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; Tennessee - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tennessee students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Tennessee (41.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 27.4% at Tennessee.

Elon vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and Tennessee? 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 The University of Tennessee Knoxville's (63%).
  • Graduates from The University of Tennessee Knoxville earn a median of about $100 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Tennessee Knoxville graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($20,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Tennessee graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($206 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tennessee 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.