Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $48,751 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $24.5K more than the national median. The 77% who received grants paid $44,440 on average; the other 23% paid the full sticker price of $62,514.
- Full price
- $62,514 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Little need-based aid above $110K
- aid thins out for families above that income
- Merit aid
- 47% · avg $13K
- of first-years without need got merit aid
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $50K · 47% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $27K a year |
| $30–48K | $24K a year |
| $48–75K | $24K a year |
| $75–110K | $34K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
- Divorced or separated parents: colleges with their own formula usually ask for both parents' finances.
$48,751
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
77% got grants averaging $17,867; 23% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$68,495 before aid
Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 16% from 2023–24.
Show the full next-year estimate
- Tuition, fees, food & housing$68,495
- Books and supplies$900
- Transportationnot reported
- Other expenses$1,150
- Total for a student living on campuspartial: not every part is a number
$20.5K
≈ $217/month for 10 years
2.6 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 4 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full24%
- Paying it down37%
- Payments paused19%
- Not paying it down17%
- Behind or in default0–2%
- Forgiven or discharged0–1%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
LimitedGrants cover 22% of the $62,514 full price on average across all first-years (limited), more than at 10% of colleges. Most students here pay close to the sticker price.
$13,763 in grants per first-year ÷ $62,514 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (1,676), 2023–24
About 1 in 4 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $62,514.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (1,676)
- Federal aid + grants599avg grant $22.8K
- Grants, no federal aid692avg grant $13.6K
- No grants385pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (658 of 1,676), because income is only reported for them.
From Elon University's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2025–26 (estimated).
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 37%494 students | 32%1,919 students |
| Need met, on average | 73% | 67% |
| Need fully met | 34% | 30% |
| Average aid package | $36,597 | $34,927 |
| Average need-based grant | $24,540 | $22,940 |
| Average need-based loan | $3,254 | $4,219 |
| Merit aid without need | 47%average $12,646 | 44%average $11,871 |
| Athletic scholarships | 61average $39,178 | 308average $38,151 |
45% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2026 entrants.
International students
Need-based and merit aid offered.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2026–27;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)