Elon vs. WCU

Should I go to Elon University or Western Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elon or WCU 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. Western Carolina University comparison
Elon University Western Carolina University College 3 College 4
Elon University Western Carolina University
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

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/