UD vs. Elon

Deciding between University of Delaware and Elon University? 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.

University of Delaware
Elon University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Elon 7,239
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Elon #140
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Elon -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Elon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Elon $46,958
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Elon $14,985
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Elon $44,440
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Elon $17,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Elon 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Elon 18,105
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Elon 12,012
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Elon 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Elon 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Elon 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • Elon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Elon Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Elon Low
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Elon 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • Elon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Elon 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Elon 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Elon $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Elon 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Elon $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Elon $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • Elon 40%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • Elon 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Elon Low
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Elon No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Elon 82%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Elon 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Elon 5%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Elon 2%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Elon 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Elon 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Elon 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Elon University in Elon, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Delaware is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (24,412 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Elon University is in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Elon University 11:1.

UD vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD or Elon? 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 Delaware than Elon ($19,139 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 2.6% lower than at University of Delaware ($14,985 vs. $15,386).
  • Elon University is 179.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $30,148 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Elon than at University of Delaware (about $5,558 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Elon University (91% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 34.3% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($17,867 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. Elon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Delaware (1280) is 70 points higher than at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming UD students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 25 at Elon).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Elon University 1130/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Elon University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Elon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Elon (66.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 13.4% at Elon.

UD vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD and Elon? 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 Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from University of Delaware earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Elon graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,300 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elon University graduates have a $953 lower median loan debt than UD graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,203).
  • Among borrowers, Elon graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UD graduates ($240 vs. $250).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)

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.