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Furman Wofford College JMU CofC Davidson UofSC UNC Chapel Hill University of Richmond Clemson NC State ASU Fairfield University| Elon University | Wake Forest University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
| Location | Elon, NC | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 7,207 | 9,121 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #134 | #44 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elon.edu | wfu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,029 | $63,608 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,029 | $63,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,478 | $17,848 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,849 | $27,790 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,523 | $55,090 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 69% | 34% |
Admission |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,791 | 17,479 | ||
| Admitted | 12,649 | 3,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.3% | 21.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.3% | 36.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1143/1305 | 1390/1510 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 10, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $77,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $237 |
Diversity |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 16% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 18% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 80% | 76% | ||
Campus |
Elon | Wake Forest | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Wake Forest University is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (9,121 students vs. 7,207 students)
Elon vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Elon or Wake Forest?
- Wake Forest University is 44.5% more expensive to attend than Elon for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $44,029.00)
- Out of state tuition is 44.5% higher at Wake Forest than Elon University ($63,608.00 vs. $44,029.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than Elon ($27,790 vs. $41,849)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 23.3% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($14,478 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Elon University than Wake Forest University (69% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 214.4% larger than aid received Elon University ($55,090 vs. $17,523)
Elon vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Elon or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or Elon .
- Elon has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
Elon vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Elon or Wake Forest? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wake Forest and Elon.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Elon University (88% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $21,000 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $56,200)
- Wake Forest University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Elon graduates. ($23,000 vs. $23,250)
- Wake Forest graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Elon graduates. ($237 vs. $240)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elon students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/