Elon vs. UofSC

Deciding between Elon University and University of South Carolina Columbia? 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 South Carolina Columbia

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elon 7,239
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elon #140
  • UofSC #220
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elon -
  • UofSC -
  • Status
  • Elon Non-profit
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elon
  • UofSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elon $46,958
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & Board
  • Elon $14,985
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average Net Price
  • Elon $44,440
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elon $17,867
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elon 77%
  • UofSC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elon 18,105
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • Elon 12,012
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elon 66.3%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Elon 13.4%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elon 1210
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elon 25
  • UofSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elon 3.65
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elon A-
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elon Challenging
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elon Low
  • UofSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elon 23/28
  • UofSC 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elon Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elon 11:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elon 82%
  • UofSC 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elon $56,200
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elon 86%
  • UofSC 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elon $23,250
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elon $240
  • UofSC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elon 40%
  • UofSC 40%
  • % Women
  • Elon 60%
  • UofSC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elon Low
  • UofSC Low
  • HBCU
  • Elon No
  • UofSC No
  • % White
  • Elon 82%
  • UofSC 77%
  • % Asian
  • Elon 2%
  • UofSC 3%
  • % Black
  • Elon 6%
  • UofSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elon 5%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • Elon 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elon 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elon 2%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % International
  • Elon 2%
  • UofSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elon 1%
  • UofSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elon 21%
  • UofSC 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elon 77%
  • UofSC 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elon University in Elon, NC with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (38,532 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elon University is located in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting); University of South Carolina Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elon University 11:1; University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1.

Elon vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or UofSC? 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 South Carolina Columbia than Elon ($24,488 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 9.7% lower than at Elon University ($13,534 vs. $14,985).
  • Elon University is 270.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UofSC (about $34,270 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $12,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.5% higher at Elon than at University of South Carolina Columbia (about $10,986 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $35,972.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at Elon University (91% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 150.3% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($17,867 vs. $7,139).

Elon vs. UofSC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Columbia (1270) is 60 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming UofSC 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; University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elon University 23/28; University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elon - Test optional; UofSC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Elon Jan 10, 2027; UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UofSC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Elon vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

Elon vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elon and UofSC? 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 South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Carolina Columbia and Elon graduates have the same median loan debt ($23,250 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of South Carolina Columbia and Elon graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($240 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC 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.