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Elon, NC · Winston-Salem, NC
| Elon University | Wake Forest University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $41,555/yr | $28,719/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $26,523/yr | $6,525/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,500 | $21,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $23,514/yr | $6,331/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $24,064/yr | $7,647/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $34,472/yr | $12,771/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $49,743/yr | $58,081/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $217/mo | $228/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,985/yr | $18,494/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,985/yr | $18,494/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $900/yr | $1,680/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,600/yr | $3,386/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $62,266/yr | $87,499/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $46,958/yr | $67,642/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $46,958/yr | $67,642/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 9.9% | 10% |
| Students taking federal loans | 24% | 14% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 66% | 22% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1130–1280 | 1410–1520 |
| SAT average | 1208 | 1475 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 23–28 | 32–34 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 23–27 · Math 21–27 | English 34–35 · Math 29–34 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 18,791 | 17,479 |
| Students accepted | 12,649 | 3,768 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,677 | 1,385 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 13% | 37% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 2% | 26% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 22% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 84% | 89% |
| Freshmen who come back | 90% | 93% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $74,545/yr | $78,158/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $46,849–$107,869 | $53,216–$126,384 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 83% | 90% |
| White students graduating | 84% | 91% |
| Black students graduating | 87% | 79% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 82% | 88% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 81% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $58,082/yr | $67,722/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 84% | 88% |
| Graduate on time | 80% | 84% |
| Pell students who graduate | 82% | 87% |
| First-gen students who finish | 14% | 85% |
| Low-income students who finish | No data reported | 79% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $65,954/yr | $80,513/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Communication & Journalism 18% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Social Sciences 21% · Communication & Journalism 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 18% of degrees | Social Sciences — 21% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 7% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 5% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $105,947/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $202,919/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 10% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 6,452 | 5,485 |
| Students per professor | 11 : 1 | 10 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 787 | 3,832 |
| Average professor pay | $10,563/mo | $12,666/mo |
| Full-time professors | 82% | 76% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $112,797 | $94,263 |
| Setting | Suburb (midsize) | City (large) |
| Location | Elon, NC | Winston-Salem, NC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1889 | 1834 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.8% | 5.8% |
| Men | 41% | 45% |
| Women | 59% | 55% |
| White students | 76% | 65% |
| Black students | 5.2% | 6.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 7.2% | 9.7% |
| Asian students | 2.2% | 5.3% |
| Two or more races | 3.3% | 4.6% |
| Other / not reported | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 9.1% | 12% |
| Part-time students | 2.8% | 1.3% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $19,988/yr | $35,708/yr |
| Endowment | $365.5M | $2.0B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,196 | 4,104 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,056/yr | $11,214/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,422/yr | $9,226/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Four-one-four plan | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 438 | 440 |
| Athletic scholarships | $13.6M | $21.5M |
| Athletics budget | $38.2M | $114.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $38.2M | $114.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $489,793 | $1.9M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.