Howard vs. Elon

Deciding between Howard University 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.

Howard University
Elon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Howard Washington, DC
  • Elon Elon, NC
  • Setting
  • Howard Large City
  • Elon Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Howard 14,890
  • Elon 7,239
  • Type
  • Howard Private 4 Year
  • Elon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Howard #310
  • Elon #140
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Howard -
  • Elon -
  • Status
  • Howard Non-profit
  • Elon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Howard
  • Elon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • Elon $46,958
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • Elon $46,958
  • Room & Board
  • Howard $17,322
  • Elon $14,985
  • Average Net Price
  • Howard $33,368
  • Elon $44,440
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Howard $21,262
  • Elon $17,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Howard 99%
  • Elon 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Howard 34,211
  • Elon 18,105
  • Admitted
  • Howard 14,144
  • Elon 12,012
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Howard 41.3%
  • Elon 66.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Howard 19.4%
  • Elon 13.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Howard 1210
  • Elon 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Howard 25
  • Elon 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Howard 3.66
  • Elon 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Howard A-
  • Elon A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Howard Challenging
  • Elon Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Howard Low
  • Elon Low
  • ACT Range
  • Howard 22/28
  • Elon 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • Howard 1090/1320
  • Elon 1130/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Howard Test optional
  • Elon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Howard Feb 15, 2027
  • Elon Jan 10, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Howard 13:1
  • Elon 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Howard
    • Business (20%)
    • Communication (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • Elon
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Howard 63%
  • Elon 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Howard $51,800
  • Elon $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Howard 33%
  • Elon 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Howard $27,000
  • Elon $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Howard $279
  • Elon $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Howard 30%
  • Elon 40%
  • % Women
  • Howard 70%
  • Elon 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Howard Very Low
  • Elon Low
  • HBCU
  • Howard Yes
  • Elon No
  • % White
  • Howard 2%
  • Elon 82%
  • % Asian
  • Howard 1%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Black
  • Howard 91%
  • Elon 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Howard 0%
  • Elon 5%
  • % Native American
  • Howard 1%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Howard 0%
  • Elon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Howard 0%
  • Elon 2%
  • % International
  • Howard 5%
  • Elon 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Howard 0%
  • Elon 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Howard 2%
  • Elon 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Howard 94%
  • Elon 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Elon University in Elon, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Elon based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 7,239 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Elon University is in Elon, NC (Small Suburban setting).
  • Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Elon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Elon University 11:1.

Howard vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard University than Elon ($33,368 vs. $44,440).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 13.5% lower than at Howard University ($14,985 vs. $17,322).
  • Elon University is 31.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard (about $11,148 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $35,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.1% higher at Elon than at Howard University (about $11,148 more per year; $46,958.00 vs. $35,810.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Elon University (99% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 19% larger than aid received by Elon University students ($21,262 vs. $17,867).

Howard vs. Elon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is the same as at Elon (1210).
  • Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Elon (25).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Elon University 1130/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Elon University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Elon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; Elon Jan 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Howard students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Elon (3.65).
  • Elon has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than Howard (41.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 13.4% at Elon.

Howard vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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 Howard University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Elon University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Elon University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Elon graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 33%)

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.