Elon vs. UNC Charlotte

Deciding between Elon University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte? 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 Charlotte

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • UNC Charlotte Charlotte, NC
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • UNC Charlotte Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • UNC Charlotte 31,091
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • UNC Charlotte Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • UNC Charlotte #529
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • UNC Charlotte -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • UNC Charlotte Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • UNC Charlotte
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UNC Charlotte $7,239
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UNC Charlotte $22,492
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • UNC Charlotte $14,458
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • UNC Charlotte $15,045
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • UNC Charlotte $7,966
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • UNC Charlotte 23,887
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • UNC Charlotte 19,015
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • UNC Charlotte 79.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • UNC Charlotte 24.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • UNC Charlotte 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • UNC Charlotte 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • UNC Charlotte 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • UNC Charlotte A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • UNC Charlotte Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • UNC Charlotte
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • UNC Charlotte 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • UNC Charlotte 1140/1330
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • UNC Charlotte Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • UNC Charlotte 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • UNC Charlotte
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • UNC Charlotte 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • UNC Charlotte $48,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • UNC Charlotte 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • UNC Charlotte $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • UNC Charlotte $237
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • UNC Charlotte 49%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • UNC Charlotte 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • UNC Charlotte High
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • UNC Charlotte No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • UNC Charlotte 60%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • UNC Charlotte 6%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • UNC Charlotte 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • UNC Charlotte 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • UNC Charlotte 4%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • UNC Charlotte 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • UNC Charlotte 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • UNC Charlotte 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • UNC Charlotte 9%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of North Carolina at Charlotte is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (31,091 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 Charlotte is in Charlotte, NC (Large City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21:1.

Elon vs. UNC Charlotte Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or UNC Charlotte? 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 Charlotte than Elon ($15,045 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Charlotte are 3.5% lower than at Elon University ($14,458 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 548.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Charlotte (about $39,719 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $7,239.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 108.8% higher at Elon than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (about $24,466 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $22,492.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elon University than at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (77% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 124.3% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Charlotte students ($17,867 vs. $7,966).

Elon vs. UNC Charlotte Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1240) is 30 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming Elon students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at UNC Charlotte).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 1130/1280; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 1140/1330.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; University of North Carolina at Charlotte 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; UNC Charlotte - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; UNC Charlotte Jun 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at UNC Charlotte (3.57).
  • UNC Charlotte has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than Elon (66.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 24.5% at UNC Charlotte.

Elon vs. UNC Charlotte Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and UNC Charlotte? 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 North Carolina at Charlotte's (53%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than UNC Charlotte graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($23,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Charlotte 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 UNC Charlotte students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 61%)

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.