Leaders in programs ‘focused on student success’
Elon University has built a national reputation as the premier student-centered environment for engaged, experiential learning, with an emphasis on strong personal relationships between students and their faculty and staff mentors. Elon students are ambitious, creative and determined problem-solvers who are passionate about making the world a better place.
Elon is a mid-sized private university with 6,402 undergraduate and 805 graduate students from 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 54 countries. Elon is ranked among the top universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, with a #1 ranking for excellence in undergraduate teaching and a #13 for innovation. For the ninth straight year, Elon is the leader in the “Programs to Look For” feature – the only college or university ranked in all eight categories of academic programs linked to student success and positive learning outcomes. Included are #1 rankings for learning communities and first-year experiences.
Key Elon Facts
Founded in 1889 in Elon, North Carolina
Motto: Numen Lumen
(intellectual and spiritual light)
Colors: maroon & gold
Mascot: The Phoenix
Elon’s 690-acre residential campus is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s finest environments for learning and is designated as a botanical garden. The campus includes the 56-acre Elon University Forest, a land preserve and natural area for scientific research; and Loy Farm, a center for environmental research and sustainability that includes a solar farm.
The Elon Experiences
Undergraduate participation:
*Travel limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted participation during the 2021-22 academic year.
The signature Elon Experiences programs extend learning beyond the classroom through study abroad, internships, service, leadership and undergraduate research. Elon believes so strongly in the power of the Elon Experiences that it documents the work on transcripts and ensures that all students complete experiential learning requirements. Elon students graduate with a wealth of real-world experiences that support their transition to life after college and ensure they stand out when applying for a first job or graduate school.
Elon has a four-year graduation rate of 78 percent. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and the average class size is 20. More than 497 full-time faculty members teach in six academic units: Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law.