One of the leading liberal arts colleges in the Southeast with a growing reputation nationally, especially for its business and communications schools. Notable for its welcoming environment and nurturing faculty. Elon is becoming increasingly selective, although seemingly at the cost of socioeconomic diversity. Strong emphasis on global perspectives and active, experiential learning. Classic-looking campus adds to the appeal.

Elon University derives its name from the Hebrew word for “oak,” which is fitting when you consider the ways in which the school is growing. At each year’s opening convocation, entering students are given an acorn. Four years later, they are presented with an oak sapling at commencement. It’s a charming tradition and a reminder of how things grow and change. With an emphasis on undergraduate research, internships, service learning, study abroad, and leadership-the five Elon Experiences-the university also provides its students with plenty of opportunities to mature, intellectually and socially. “Elon encourages students to not only ask questions but also find complicated and nuanced answers,” explains a strategic communications major.

Elon was founded in 1889 and occupies a 656-acre campus in North Carolina’s Piedmont region. With apologies to Colby and Miami (OH), it is arguably the most architecturally consistent campus in the nation. Buildings are Georgian-style brick with white trim, and newer buildings have been adapted to modern architectural lines while maintaining this classic collegiate feel. On the north end of campus is Lake Mary Nell, home to an abundance of geese and ducks. Academic buildings are organized in three clusters: a historic quad near a fountain in the older section of the campus; the Lambert Academic Village, complete with an amphitheater; and business and science centers in close proximity to the student center. A spate of recent construction has added a 5,100-seat athletics arena, three residence halls, and a learning center for academic advising and support services.

To graduate, students must complete a core curriculum that includes a broad range of liberal arts and science subjects, as well as an interdisciplinary capstone seminar. All students must fulfill an Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) by completing at least two of the five Elon Experiences. “I’ve found the critical thinking and reflection that comes from ELRs to be extremely beneficial for discussing my experiences and strengths in job interviews,” says a journalism major. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate degrees. Business majors-especially finance, marketing, and accounting-are some of the strongest and most popular; students also flock to strategic communications and psychology. Programs in drama, education, and biology are strong. The School of Communications is nationally recognized, and its cinema and television arts program benefits from two ultramodern digital television studios. Aspiring engineers may enroll in Elon’s fledgling four-year engineering degree program or pursue a 3–2 dual degree with partner institutions like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Penn State, and others.

Elon has an elaborate faculty-managed support system designed to ensure that first-year students don’t fall through the cracks. Students begin general studies with a first-year course called The Global Experience, a seminar-style interdisciplinary class that investigates challenges facing the world. Elon 101 serves as an academic orientation for all first-years; students meet weekly in small groups with an academic advisor and an upper-level student. Undergraduate courses are capped at 33 students, to encourage discussion-based classes and close student/faculty interaction. “My professors have supported my goals and endeavors and connected me with resources to help me succeed both as a student and as a young professional,” says an English major.

“We don’t have the same level of academic rigor as other private liberal arts schools in the region,” remarks an anthropology major, “but we make up for it with our focus on experiential learning.” Twenty-three percent of undergrads engage in research with faculty and present their work at a research forum in the spring. Seventy-eight percent study abroad, thanks to the 4–1–4 academic calendar and more than 100 study abroad programs. For career preparation, 88 percent of students complete internships. Elon’s seven Fellows Programs, to which prospective students can apply alongside their admissions applications, are designed for exceptionally motivated students. They offer faculty support, scholarships, and peer networks, and current participants highly recommend them as being “profoundly impactful.”

Given Elon’s emphasis on out-of-classroom endeavors, students here tend to have a lot going on. Of Elon’s predominately female student body, 19 percent come from North Carolina, and most of the rest hail from the Northeast. Five percent are African American, 7 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Asian American, 3 percent multiracial, and 2 percent international. Somewhat surprisingly for a school that was once a top choice for first-generation college students, only 10 percent of undergraduates qualify for Pell Grants. Lack of racial and socioeconomic diversity is a common complaint, but students note that the administration is making efforts to diversify the “fairly rich, white, and preppy campus.” Politically, says a senior, the campus “certainly does lean liberal, but there are more conservatives here than you think.” The top 15 percent of admitted applicants are automatically awarded the Presidential Scholarship. Overall, merit scholarships average $7,800 per year, and the university awards more than 290 athletic scholarships.

Sixty-four percent of students reside on campus; they are required to do so for their first two years, and many choose to say on campus for all four years. “The new dorms and apartments are gorgeous and nicer than where I’ll be living after graduation,” says a senior. Options include traditional residence halls, university-owned apartments, and the Global and Colonnades neighborhoods, which feature two dozen living/learning communities, such as Creative Arts, Gender and Sexuality, and Innovation. Designed to bridge classroom learning with social experiences, these communities also serve to bring together diverse groups of students with common interests in a safe space; many participants in the Gender and Sexuality community, for instance, identify as LGBTQIA. Those who move off campus find plenty of options within walking distance. Campus dining, which consists of three dining halls and almost 20 retail locations, receives rave reviews for taste, variety, and accommodations for allergies and special diets. Campus security programs are said to be effective and include escort services, Safe Rides, and the Live Safe app to help students get home safely.

When it’s time to let off steam, students generally turn to the active Greek scene-which attracts 20 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women. “Greek life and club sports support a robust off-campus social life for all students to partake in,” says a senior, and students report that alcohol policies are loosely enforced. The Student Union Board hosts events every weekend, like bingo and trivia nights, a cappella concerts, and comedy shows. Favorite campus traditions include a weekly College Coffee, where students and faculty mingle over free breakfast and coffee-a tradition since 1984. An exercise science major says, “We have a Festival of Lights before winter break, and a holiday party at our president’s house is a hallmark of the holiday season.”

The tiny town of Elon is virtually indistinguishable from the university. “There are three bars in the town of Elon, with little else to do,” gripes a junior. Students do take an active role in the community through volunteer projects. Eighty-seven percent of students participate in community service, both domestically and abroad, and one student confirms, “Service is one of the bigger components of life as an Elon student.” The well-known Elon University Poll, which the school runs as a public service, tracks political and public policy issues. Road trips to the beach (three hours), the mountains (one hour), and Chapel Hill or Raleigh-Durham (less than an hour) are popular diversions.

Elon competes in the Division I Colonial Athletic Association and offers 17 Phoenix teams. Women’s basketball, women’s cross-country, men’s tennis, and baseball are recent conference champs. Men’s soccer, men’s basketball, and softball are also strong. The intramural program covers more than 20 sports, and a successful club sports program lets students compete with other schools.

“Elon’s best asset is honestly its commitment to engaged learning,” says one student. By steadily ramping up its educational offerings, increasing and improving its facilities, and becoming more selective, this supportive liberal arts university is quickly outgrowing its local reputation. “Elon is not just a place,” says a senior, “it’s an experience and a community.”

-Fiske Guide