ELON COLLEGE, N.C. – Elon College has been named one of the 100 best schools in the nation for African Americans. The ranking is carried in the 2000 edition of the Kaplan DayStar Guide to Colleges for African American Students.
The publication based its rankings on recommendations from African American higher education professionals from colleges and universities across the country. More than 1,000 African American presidents, vice presidents, deans, department heads, professors, admissions counselors and financial aid officers were asked to rate colleges on the academic and learning environment for African American students as well as the social environment. The ranking also takes into account the number of African American students and faculty at each institution, graduation rates, Greek societies, costs, financial aid and other factors.
The Kaplan DayStar guide is designed to help African American students make informed choices and decide on the college that best suits their needs and goals. Elon earns high marks for its retention and graduation rates for African American students. More than 82 percent of African American freshmen at Elon return for their sophomore year, and 60 percent graduate within six years. Elon offers four African American Greek societies and extensive programming through its Office of Minority Affairs.
Elon’s student-run African American Resource Room serves as a library, gathering place, historical archive and orientation point for students, faculty and staff on issues of race and diversity. A Wall of Fame celebrates the accomplishments of African American students and alumni.