Elon University is welcoming a new class of students on Friday, Aug. 22. With the incoming students, Elon will now have representation from all 50 states.
Elon University will welcome more than 1,500 new students for the 2025-26 academic year, with the Class of 2029 moving to campus on Friday, Aug. 22.
Thirteen percent of the new students are first-generation college students, coming from 43 states and 15 countries, including Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Panama. The top states include North Carolina, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia. With these new students, Elon will have representation from all 50 states.
Top majors for the class include psychology, finance, marketing, business analytics, exercise science, nursing, engineering, sport management, elementary education and political science. Nursing, business analytics and engineering saw a 13% increase from the 2024-25 academic year. The average GPA for incoming students is 4.13.
Friday, Aug. 22
Move-In Day
All students will be assigned a specific move-in time, which can be found on their Acorn Account. Upon arriving to campus, students and families must report to central check-in at Schar Center. Students will then receive orientation materials and directions to their move-in location. Each neighborhood has specific driving directions, which can be viewed on the map below.
New Student Orientation
All new students are required to attend new student orientation, which starts on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 22, and goes through Monday, Aug. 25. On Friday, students will meet their orientation leader for the first time and, throughout orientation, they will have multiple opportunities to interact with their orientation leaders. More activities on Friday include students learning about their residential neighborhood or campus community (for off-campus students) and having fun at Late Night Elon.
Saturday, Aug. 23
New Student Convocation
The Class of 2029 will be welcomed to the university Under the Oaks by President Connie Ledoux Book during New Student Convocation on Saturday, Aug. 23. Students will first meet in Alumni Gym at 8 a.m. and hear from Jon Dooley, vice president of student life, before walking through Alamance Building and gathering with friends and families Under the Oaks. During the procession, students will pass the bell that hung in “Old Main” before the building was destroyed in the fire of 1923.
If family members want a bite to eat before New Student Convocation, they can stop by the special Parent and Family College Coffee in the LaRose Student Commons courtyard. College Coffee brings together students, faculty and staff each week for food and fellowship.
During convocation, students will receive their acorns, an Elon tradition since 1999, which symbolizes the beginning of their Elon journey. As they prepare to graduate in spring 2029, students will receive an oak sapling at the Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate, a symbol of their transformation during their time at the university.
Later in the day, students can meet with their academic advisors and Elon 1010 Peer Educators and then say goodbye during the Family Send-Off Picnic at several locations: West Koury Lawn, West Moseley Lawn and Martin Alumni Center. Wristbands are required and can be purchased at the Orientation Headquarters in the Moseley Student Center. Students eat for free with a meal plan.
Events are planned for families throughout New Student Orientation. However, if families cannot attend, they can always reach out to the Office of Parent Engagement with questions or concerns. Students have additional programming that afternoon and into the evening starting at 4:00 p.m. Orientation events are mandatory for all new students.
Monday, Aug. 25
Call to Honor
On Monday, all new students will commit to the university’s Honor Code with the Call to Honor at 9:30 a.m. in Alumni Gym. Each incoming class represents one of the four pillars of the Elon Honor Code: honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect. Students sign their name on a poster with the Elon Honor Code and receive a coin with the word “honor” engraved on it. Several other sessions are planned throughout the day, ending with a mesmerizing hypnotist show in Alumni Gym.
Classes begin on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
