Why Charlotte?

Choosing Charlotte as the next National Campus Program location was an easy choice. Firstly, Charlotte was the largest American city without a law school. Elon University has a thriving law program in Greensboro, NC and wanted to offer the same quality experience in Charlotte. The Elon Law Flex Program opened in Charlotte August 2023. The first cohort of students exceeded the initial enrollment goal. Applications for the second cohort are 30% higher than just one year ago.

Secondly, Charlotte boasts a high concentration of sports teams (both professional and collegiate) and sports organizations. In September 2022, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Board of Directors announced that the conference office was moving its headquarters to Charlotte in 2023. Experiential opportunities like internships and undergraduate research are plentiful because of the existence of these sports teams and organizations. The Sport Management major continues to grow at Elon, but all students who are interested in sports from any major (business analytics, strategic communications, marketing, etc.) can participate in professional development opportunities. The abundance of these opportunities and connections to a strong professional network are not available to the same degree at the central campus.

Similarly, banking and health care continue to grow in the metropolitan area. Charlotte is the number two banking city in the US. Our students and alumni have plentiful internship and career choices, respectively, as well as the opportunity to engage and network with top industry professionals. As more people move to Charlotte, there is more demand for quality health care. Currently, there is a lack of Physician Assistant (PA) programs in the area. To aid in this deficiency, Elon has proposed starting a PA program in January 2027.

Charlotte also continues to grow each year. 117 people move to the Charlotte metro area each day. Charlotte is now the 14th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 917,000. If you include the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan area, the population is 2.8 million people. Charlotte is also a top five destination where Elon undergraduate alumni move to after graduation. This presents a unique opportunity for continuing and professional education possibilities not only for Elon alumni, but for the entire Charlotte community.

Lastly, equity was also a big reason why we choose Charlotte. Not all of our students can afford the global and domestic study away opportunities we offer in cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, DC. Charlotte is reasonably priced while still offering unique opportunities for all students of any major and interest.

Academics

Graduate

The Charlotte campus is offering a new, part-time Elon University School of Law J.D. program, which provides high-quality legal education in Charlotte. Elon Law is the only law school in Charlotte. The program builds on the success of its highly experiential, full-time curriculum in Greensboro, N.C., with the same distinguished faculty teaching in-person to meet the needs of aspiring attorneys in the Queen City seeking to study law with the flexibility of part-time program.

The Elon University Charlotte law program began August 2024. Students in the part-time Flex Program have the opportunity to take many of the same elective courses offered in Greensboro (plus others tailored to the Charlotte market) and to participate in extracurricular and experiential opportunities such as clinics, law journals, and moot court programs.

Undergraduate

Elon Charlotte hosted the inaugural “The Sport and Community Experience” academic program in fall 2023 for sport management majors and minors. A group of undergraduate students lived in Charlotte and took specialized classes taught by full-time Elon faculty. As part of this experience, students interned at local organizations including Fox Sports and the Atlantic Coast Conference, conducted site visits to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Team Penske, Bank of America Stadium, and the Spectrum Center, and attended sporting events to watch the Checkers, Knights, Panthers, Hornets, and Charlotte FC.

In addition to the fall program, students of all majors can take part in the Elon in Charlotte summer program. More information on the fall and summer programs and a link to apply can be found on the Study USA website Study USA website. These experiences serve as professional launching pads. Students who secure an unpaid internship and/or an internship at a non-profit should apply for funding through the Queen City Internship Program. If a student or parent has questions about the Elon in Charlotte experience, contact Associate Director of Elon Charlotte Karen Neff, kneff2@elon.edu.

Experiential Education

All students who enroll in an undergraduate Elon in Charlotte program are required to complete an internship. A major goal of Elon in Charlotte is developing deep and meaningful connections with industry professionals. An important way of developing those connections is through internships based in Charlotte. Students learn what it means to be a professional, how to create and build a professional network, and apply what they have been learning in the classroom to a professional experience. Summer and Fall 2024 students were asked about their internships. Here’s what they had to say.

Student Quotes About Internship Experiences

“During this internship, I had the privilege of working with an incredible team and gaining hands-on experience in event planning and management. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to attend the Championship races in Phoenix, where I helped execute our hospitality spaces, as well as assist with the planning and execution of Awards Week here in Charlotte. What made this experience unforgettable, was the team I worked alongside. They welcomed me with open arms, providing countless opportunities for growth and learning.”
-Addy ’27, Sport Management major, Interned with NASCAR

“My time at Sports Business Journal was transformational. At SBJ, I had the opportunity to write six articles that were published. I also had the opportunity to network with rising stars in the sports business industry. This experience has solidified my intent to pursue a writing-centered career post-graduation.”
-Jesse ’26, Sport Management major, Interned with Sports Business Journal

“My internship with Charlotte FC provided me with hands-on experience and a greater appreciation for professional sports. Working closely with the Community Engagement Team, I gained valuable insights into the soccer industry and, more importantly, learned the significance of giving back to the community. The Charlotte FC organization inspired me, demonstrating the profound impact sports can have on individuals and society.”
-Gaby’24, Sport Management major, Interned with Charlotte Football Club

“I’ve had the opportunity to engage in two distinct and highly valuable internships, each playing a pivotal role in shaping my understanding of what my future career in the sports industry might entail.”
-Lauren’27, Sport Management major, Interned with NASCAR and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

“Working in Athletic Communications this summer for Queens University has been a great experience thus far! I’ve been able to get an understanding of what happens in a Division 1 athletic department in the off-season, see the different areas of the department and how they work together, and learn the technical skills that are needed to be successful in the space. Everyone I’ve worked with so far has been a joy to be around, and I can’t wait for what’s to come during the rest of the internship period!”
-Sebastian ’25, Sport Management major, Interned with Queens University of Charlotte

“Working for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (GISP) at The Opportunity Campus in Charlotte has been an amazing experience so far! My work with GISP has provided me with the opportunity to combine my passion for analytics work and nonprofit work. Through meeting and connecting with many GISP Leaders I’ve had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the organization, the impact of their mission, and gain valuable mentoring. I’m excited for what the rest of the summer has in store!”
-Jack H. ’25, Business Analytics major, Interned with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

“I am looking forward to learning more about the realm of college athletics and how colleges are adjusting to the semi-professionalism of this level of sport. At Queen’s University, their athletic department is adjusting to not only the new change across all of college athletics but also competing at the Division 1 level as a school which, until two years ago, competed within Division 2 athletics. I am very excited to assist this program in navigating these changes and learning more about this increasingly competitive environment.”
-Meghan ’26, Sport Management major, Interned with Queens University of Charlotte

“During this first week, my experience at the ACC has been very immersive into the company culture and work they do. Since my experience is shorter because I’m doing it during the summer, they have allowed me to jump right into helping out with bigger projects and interact with various departments throughout the company. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge and insight in these first few days, so I am excited to see what the rest of the summer holds.”
-Christian ’26, Sport Management major, Interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

“Coming into Elon I would have never thought that I would be interning for the ACC, that being the league that I have been so passionate about for as long as I can remember. The only reason I am here though is because of what I have learned through my time with Elon Athletics Communications and Elon student media outlets like Rising Phoenix and Elon News Network, as well as the many influential peers and mentors that those organizations are made up of.”
-Jack P. ’25, Journalism major, Interned with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

“It has been a pleasure meeting the women’s basketball coaching staff. Another highlight has been the opportunity to create profiles on teams in the ASUN conference. I look forward to the new experiences I will gain from this opportunity.”
-Manny ’25, Sport Management major, Interned with Queens University of Charlotte

Admissions

Fredrick Evans is the admissions counselor for the Charlotte area. He holds information sessions, visits high schools, and attends college fairs. High school students who are interested in learning more about Elon are encouraged to reach out to Fredrick and attend local events to learn more about the university.

Alumni

Office of Alumni Engagement supports an active Charlotte regional alumni chapter. Each fall, the chapter hosts a Welcome to the City event for new alumni to the area. Follow the chapter’s Instagram account @elonclt for updates. All upcoming alumni events can be found on the Elon Alumni Calendar.

Employer and Organizational Partnerships

Elon University is seeking partnerships with Charlotte-based companies, nonprofits, and community organizations to provide impactful internship opportunities for our students during the upcoming summer 2025 term. Please click on the one sheet below to learn more. If you’d like to learn more about hosting an Elon intern, contact Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations, Ryan Taube, rtaube@elon.edu.

Charlotte Summer 2025 Employer One Sheet

Future Collaborations and Endeavors

Elon Charlotte will host additional events for our admissions, advancement, and Student Professional Development offices. The Charlotte Campus will continue to expand, with plans to announce additional graduate offerings in the future. If you are a college or university who is interested in having your students take part in the summer or fall Elon in Charlotte program, please email Ashley Pinney at apinney@elon.edu.