AU vs. Elon

Should I go to American University or Elon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Elon 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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American University vs. Elon University comparison
American University Elon University College 3 College 4
American University Elon University
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Overview

AU Elon
Location Washington, DC Elon, NC
Setting Large City Small Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 7,123
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #116
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu elon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Elon
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $41,734
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $41,734
Room & Board $15,706 $13,886
Avg Net Price $41,369 $41,527
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $13,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 68%

Admission

AU Elon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 17,551
Admitted 7,926 13,069
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 74.5%
Enrolled % 22.2% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/30
SAT Range 1290/1430 1170/1360
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 15, 2024 Jan 10, 2024

Academics

AU Elon
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

AU Elon
Graduation Rate 77% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $250 $240

Diversity

AU Elon
% Men 37% 40%
% Women 63% 60%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 82%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

AU Elon
% In-State 2% 18%
% Out-of-State 94% 80%

Campus

AU Elon
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 7,123 students)

AU vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Elon?

  • American University is 27.2% more expensive to attend than Elon for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.2% higher at AU than Elon University ($53,070.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Elon ($41,369 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 13.1% lower than costs at American University ($13,886 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elon University than American University (68% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 95.5% larger than aid received Elon University ($27,138 vs. $13,880)

AU vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Elon? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Elon or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 41 points higher than at Elon (1211)
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Elon? 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 Elon and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than American University (82% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $56,200)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $24,250)
  • Elon graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($240 vs. $250)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU 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/