Elon vs. UC

Deciding between Elon University and University of Cincinnati 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
University of Cincinnati Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • UC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • UC 45,026
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • UC #429
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • UC -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • UC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • UC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UC $13,976
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UC $29,310
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • UC $13,564
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • UC $24,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • UC $8,196
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • UC 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • UC 34,285
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • UC 29,242
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • UC 85.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • UC 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • UC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • UC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • UC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • UC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • UC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • UC
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • UC 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • UC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • UC Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • UC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • UC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • UC $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • UC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • UC $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • UC $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • UC 47%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • UC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • UC Low
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • UC No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • UC 75%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • UC 3%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • UC 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • UC 3%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • UC 3%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • UC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • UC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • UC 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • UC 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (45,026 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); University of Cincinnati Main Campus is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1.

Elon vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or UC? 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 University of Cincinnati Main Campus than Elon ($24,696 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 9.5% lower than at Elon University ($13,564 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 236% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC (about $32,982 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $13,976.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.2% higher at Elon than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (about $17,648 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $29,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (77% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 118% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($17,867 vs. $8,196).

Elon vs. UC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1270) is 60 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming UC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; UC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; UC Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Elon (66.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 22.5% at UC.

Elon vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and UC? 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 University of Cincinnati Main Campus's (59%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than UC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($23,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, UC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($237 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 57%)

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.