Elon vs. Wake Forest

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

Elon Wake Forest
Location Elon, NC Winston Salem, NC
Setting Small Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 7,123 8,963
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #116
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elon.edu wfu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elon Wake Forest
Tuition (In State) $41,734 $61,012
Tuition (Out of State) $41,734 $61,012
Room & Board $13,886 $16,652
Avg Net Price $41,527 $26,197
Avg Grant Aid $13,880 $54,233
% Receiving Grant Aid 68% 29%

Admission

Elon Wake Forest
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,551 16,857
Admitted 13,069 3,602
Acceptance Rate 74.5% 21.4%
Enrolled % 12.9% 38%
Avg High School GPA 3.65 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Difficult Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 25/30
SAT Range 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 10, 2024 Jan 1, 2024

Academics

Elon Wake Forest
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Elon Wake Forest
Graduation Rate 82% 88%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,200 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $240 $237

Diversity

Elon Wake Forest
% Men 40% 43%
% Women 60% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 82% 72%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 7%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Elon Wake Forest
% In-State 18% 14%
% Out-of-State 80% 77%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Wake Forest University is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (8,963 students vs. 7,123 students)

Elon vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elon or Wake Forest?

  • Wake Forest University is 46.2% more expensive to attend than Elon for in-state tuition ($61,012.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at Wake Forest than Elon University ($61,012.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wake Forest University than Elon ($26,197 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 19.9% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($13,886 vs. $16,652)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elon University than Wake Forest University (68% vs. 29%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 290.7% larger than aid received Elon University ($54,233 vs. $13,880)

Elon vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Wake Forest (21.4%)

Elon vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elon or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest and Elon.

  • The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Elon University (88% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $21,000 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $56,200)
  • Wake Forest University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Elon graduates. ($23,000 vs. $23,250)
  • Wake Forest graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Elon graduates. ($237 vs. $240)
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elon students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/