Elon vs. WVU

Should I go to Elon University or West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elon or WVU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Elon University vs. West Virginia University comparison
Elon University West Virginia University College 3 College 4
Elon University West Virginia University
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Overview

 Elon WVU
Location Elon, NC Morgantown, WV
Setting Small Suburban Small City
Enrollment 7,207 24,200
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #134 #534
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elon.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Elon WVU
Tuition (In State) $44,029 $9,648
Tuition (Out of State) $44,029 $27,360
Room & Board $14,478 $13,876
Avg Net Price $41,849 $13,691
Avg Grant Aid $17,523 $11,893
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 93%

Admission

 Elon WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,791 19,857
Admitted 12,649 17,129
Acceptance Rate 67.3% 86.3%
Enrolled % 13.3% 25.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/28 20/26
SAT Range 1143/1305 1010/1240
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

Academics

 Elon WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

 Elon WVU
Graduation Rate 82% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,200 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $240 $248

Diversity

 Elon WVU
% Men 4% 10%
% Women 7% 13%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 81%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 Elon WVU
% In-State 18% 43%
% Out-of-State 80% 56%

Campus

 Elon WVU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Virginia University is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (24,200 students vs. 7,207 students)

Elon vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or WVU?

  • Elon University is 356.4% more expensive to attend than WVU for in-state tuition ($44,029.00 vs. $9,648.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 60.9% higher at Elon than West Virginia University ($44,029.00 vs. $27,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than Elon ($13,691 vs. $41,849)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University are 4.3% lower than costs at Elon University ($13,876 vs. $14,478)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at West Virginia University than Elon University (93% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 47.3% larger than aid received West Virginia University ($17,523 vs. $11,893)

Elon vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elon or WVU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVU or Elon .

  • The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 133 points higher than at WVU (1078)
  • Incoming Elon students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at WVU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at WVU (3.45)
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (86.3%) than Elon (67.3%)

Elon vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elon or WVU? 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 WVU and Elon.

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than West Virginia University (82% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Elon University earn on average $5,600 more per year than WVU graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $50,600)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $751 lower median federal student loan debt than WVU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,001)
  • Elon graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than WVU graduates. ($240 vs. $248)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/