Elon vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Deciding between Elon University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill? 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • UNC Chapel Hill

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

Elon vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Elon ($10,154 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 7.9% lower than at Elon University ($13,804 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 422.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $37,964 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at Elon than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $5,755 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $41,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (77% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 0.3% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($17,867 vs. $17,814).

Elon vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elon or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and Elon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 250 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming UNC Chapel Hill students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNC Chapel Hill 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 UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

Elon vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and UNC Chapel Hill? 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).

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Elon University's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $6,771 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($16,479 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($170 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNC Chapel Hill students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)

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.