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ECU ASU Furman Wofford College JMU CofC Davidson UofSC Clemson University of Richmond NC State UNC Charlotte| Elon University | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Elon | WCU | ||
| Location | Elon, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 7,123 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #116 | #763 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | elon.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Elon | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $41,734 | $1,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,734 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,886 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,527 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,880 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 68% | 99% |
Admission |
Elon | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,551 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 13,069 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.5% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1360 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Elon | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Elon | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,200 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,250 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $240 | $227 |
Diversity |
Elon | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 40% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 60% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
Elon | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 18% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 80% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Elon | WCU | ||
| 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
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 7,123 students)
Elon vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Elon or WCU?
- Elon University is 4,073.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($41,734.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 734.7% higher at Elon than Western Carolina University ($41,734.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Elon ($13,022 vs. $41,527)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 24.3% lower than costs at Elon University ($11,173 vs. $13,886)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than Elon University (99% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 206.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($13,880 vs. $4,526)
Elon vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Elon or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Elon .
- The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 179 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Elon students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than Elon (74.5%)
Elon vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Elon or WCU? 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 WCU and Elon.
- The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Western Carolina University (82% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Elon University earn on average $17,100 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($56,200 vs. $39,100)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $1,240 lower median federal student loan debt than Elon graduates. ($22,010 vs. $23,250)
- WCU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Elon graduates. ($227 vs. $240)
- More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/