Kentucky vs. Elon

Deciding between University of Kentucky 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 Kentucky
Elon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Elon 7,239
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • Elon #140
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kentucky -
  • Elon -
  • Status
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kentucky
  • Elon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Elon $46,958
  • Room & Board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Elon $14,985
  • Average Net Price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Elon $44,440
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • Elon $17,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Elon 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Elon 18,105
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Elon 12,012
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Elon 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • Elon 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Elon 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kentucky A-
  • Elon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Elon Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kentucky
  • Elon Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • Elon 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Elon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Elon 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Elon 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Elon $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Elon 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Elon $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • Elon $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kentucky 40%
  • Elon 40%
  • % Women
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Elon 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kentucky Low
  • Elon Low
  • HBCU
  • Kentucky No
  • Elon No
  • % White
  • Kentucky 76%
  • Elon 82%
  • % Asian
  • Kentucky 2%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Black
  • Kentucky 8%
  • Elon 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kentucky 4%
  • Elon 5%
  • % Native American
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Elon 2%
  • % International
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Elon 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kentucky 58%
  • Elon 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kentucky 41%
  • Elon 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with Elon University in Elon, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kentucky is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); Elon University is in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kentucky 18:1; Elon University 11:1.

Kentucky vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky 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 Kentucky than Elon ($21,958 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 6.4% lower than at University of Kentucky ($14,985 vs. $16,016).
  • Elon University is 247.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $33,456 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $13,502.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.5% higher at Elon than at University of Kentucky (about $12,818 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $34,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at Elon University (95% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elon University students is 38.5% larger than aid received by University of Kentucky students ($17,867 vs. $12,898).

Kentucky vs. Elon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elon University (1210) is 30 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming Elon students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 1070/1290; Elon University 1130/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 21/28; Elon University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kentucky - Test optional; Elon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Elon students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Elon (66.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 13.4% at Elon.

Kentucky vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kentucky 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 Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Elon graduates ($22,750 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elon graduates ($235 vs. $240).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 62%)

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.