Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Elon admits about 6 in 10 applicants (63%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 73% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (65% and 67%).
Applicants from North Carolina and from other states were admitted at similar rates (61% and 64%).
$60 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
11% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
Wait list: 4,214 offered a place, 835 accepted, 98 admitted (12% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 86% admitted
304 of 353 early applicants; 63% of all applicants
Decisions by Nov 1
Second round: apply by Dec 1
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 20
Where you stand
How Elon reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank is considered. 70% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are required for some applicants. 23% of first-years sent an SAT and 17% an ACT. Of the 35% whose high school reported a rank, 20% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of math and 3 of foreign language (3 and 2 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Not considered | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Important | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Very important | ||||
| Work experience | Very important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Very important | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
58% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 63% of first-year applicants
475 applied · 275 admitted · 77 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 12 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.7
Minimum high school GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date June 1
- Spring entry: priority date December 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 10 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by a set date.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 1 week if admitted later.
- $500 housing deposit, due May 1, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 1 / 1) | 3 | 3 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 3 |
| Social studies | 2 | 2 |
| History | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 16 | 18 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.88
From the 86% of first-years who reported a GPA.
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.059%
- 3.75–3.9911%
- 3.50–3.7410%
- 3.25–3.499%
- 3.00–3.247%
- below 3.05%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 58.8% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 10.7% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 10.4% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 8.6% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 6.5% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 4.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
20% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 48% in the top quarter, of the 35% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1260 on the SAT, 90 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Required for some applicants
Some applicants must send scores. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
12% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
35% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
23% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
12% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
37% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 23% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 17% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
301 studentssubmitted ACT
226 studentsRead with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)