Building on a history of alumni connections and partnerships, the university continues to expand student internships, professional programming and academic offerings in the Queen City.
The partnership between Elon University and the Charlotte community continues to grow, creating opportunities for students and the city alike. Elon’s National Campus in Charlotte, located in the city’s South End, provides students with a home base as they go into the city to gain hands-on experience, contribute to nonprofits and businesses, and build connections that extend beyond the classroom. This National Campus location also serves as a hub for a dynamic slate of professional and cultural events, while new academic programs continue to expand Elon’s presence in the Queen City.
Queen City Internship Grants
Since its launch last fall, Elon’s Queen City Internship Grant program has already supported 26 students in gaining hands-on experience at organizations across Charlotte — from the Atlantic Coast Conference and NASCAR to Make-A-Wish and Goodwill.
Over the summer, Katie Strohl ’26 helped Special Olympics North Carolina plan a community event, managing logistics like athlete transportation and coordinating volunteers. Across town, classmates Garek Johnson ’26 and Vinny Weinkam ’26 spent their internship at the Make-A-Wish Foundation office in Charlotte, learning about donor outreach and creating promotional materials to encourage donations that help fund children’s dreams.
“I want to do accounting, but not for a ‘big four’ company,” Johnson said. “I want to do something more meaningful, and this experience helped me do that.”
Upcoming Events
Elon’s National Campus in Charlotte, which opened in Fall 2023 in South End, is more than a hub for classes and programs — it’s a place where alumni, current and prospective students, and local leaders come together to connect, share ideas and build community. This fall, the campus is hosting a lively lineup of events, from networking gatherings and professional workshops to lectures and cultural programs, all designed to foster collaboration and strengthen ties under the Elon Charlotte banner.
Events will take place both on the Charlotte campus and in other locations across the city:
- Sept. 18: Entrepreneurship Alumni Networking Event
- Sept. 19: Love School of Business Executive in Residence Student Visit
- Sept. 23: Elon Law Admissions Open House
- Oct. 2: Paddles Up Alumni Social
- Oct. 9: Building Charlotte’s Talent Pipeline with Elon University
- Oct. 9: Elon University Charlotte Open House
- Oct. 10: Food for Thought: Alumni Insights
- Oct. 16: Alternative Break & Study USA Dinner
- Oct. 19: Admissions Event
- Oct. 23: WE Chat: Bite-sized Chats in Charlotte
- Nov. 7: Study USA Food for Thought: Alumni Insights
- Nov. 8: Elon Law “Wills For Heroes”
- Nov. 13: Communications Fellows Student Experience
- Dec. 12: Study USA Capstone College Coffee
Why Charlotte?
Charlotte was a clear choice for Elon’s next National Campus location. Before 2023, it was America’s largest city without a law school, making the Queen City an ideal location for the Elon Law Flex Program. This innovative new legal studies program opened in August 2023 and quickly exceeded enrollment goals.
Charlotte is also a major player on the sports scene, serving as headquarters to the Atlantic Coast Conference and home to a high concentration of professional athletics teams. This provides students across majors with unique internships and professional development opportunities through Elon’s “The Sport Experience” academic program. In addition, the city’s growing banking and healthcare industries offer plentiful career and networking opportunities. Elon has proposed launching a Physician Assistant Studies program in January 2027 to further meet local needs.
With a metropolitan population of more than 2.5 million people, the city is a hub for alumni and professional education opportunities. More than 36% of Elon alumni live in North Carolina, and Charlotte boasts one of the largest concentrations of Elon graduates in the nation. This vibrant community is actively engaged in various sectors, including sports, banking, government and public service. And, affordability makes Charlotte an equitable choice, providing meaningful academic and experiential opportunities for all students without the high cost of other major cities.
Together, these factors reflect Elon’s broader mission of engaged learning and preparing students for leadership, while aligning with the Boldly Elon strategic plan goal of establishing dynamic learning centers that extend the university’s reach and impact beyond main campus.
Stay in the Know
Ready to find your place in Elon’s National Campus? Visit the National Campus website to see the different ways available to engage with Elon Charlotte and the university’s other national campus locations.