Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. Nestled in a grove of oaks, Elon was founded as “a college for the world,” where students find their calling and reach their full potential within an environment of rich and meaningful relationships, and where they become big thinkers and creative problem solvers in every facet of their lives.

Elon’s more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The Elon curriculum is grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences with an emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate academic majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked among the top national universities, with a No. 1 ranking in US News & World Report for excellence in undergraduate teaching for four consecutive years.

The university’s academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, which is located in Greensboro, N.C.

Elon’s historic 690-acre campus in central North Carolina is designated as a botanical garden and includes the 56-acre Elon University Forest, a land preserve and natural area for scientific research, and Loy Farm, a center for environmental research and sustainability.

Elon is a member of the Coastal Athletic Association. The Phoenix athletics program includes 17 intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports in NCAA Division I.

Always evolving, Elon is an academic community that challenges, encourages and empowers our students to explore their passions, achieve their goals and change their communities for the better.

The Elon Experiences

As a pioneer and leader in engaged learning, Elon has refined a scholarly model that built upon collaboration, mentorship and innovation. Central to this model are five signature programs that comprise the Elon Experiences — study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, service and leadership. The Elon Experiences provide a natural extension to the work students do in the classroom and ensure that Elon graduates are prepared for both graduate school and careers. The five experiences are:

  1. Study Abroad. When students study abroad, their perspectives change forever. From studying in South Africa for a semester, to learning about business in Vietnam during Winter Term, to exploring liberal arts, music and performing arts in Italy during the summer, the 160+ international programs offered through the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center prepare students for a lifetime of global understanding and exploration. As part of its commitment to provide all students with an opportunity to study in other locations, Elon also has an extensive Study USA program that allows students to explore cultures, industries, geography and communities across the United States.
  2. Internships. Elon’s nationally recognized Student Professional Development Center counselors work with undergraduates from their first year to create personal development plans, résumés and strong networking skills. Through internships, students earn academic credit, gain firsthand knowledge of the workplace and obtain professional skills that put them ahead of other college graduates. Elon partners with an expansive network of employers across the country who actively recruit students for internships and full-time positions.
  3. Research. Working alongside faculty mentors, many Elon students undertake sophisticated research that is usually reserved for graduate students at other universities. This intensive undergraduate research experience challenges students to formulate complex questions, review the work of other scholars and conduct serious inquiry to uncover new knowledge and understanding. Elon students and faculty showcase their in-depth research across a broad range of disciplines annually at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and at national research conferences and symposia.
  4. Leadership. At Elon, students work collaboratively within diverse communities, gaining the confidence and competence to put innovative ideas into action for positive change. Elon’s Center for Leadership offers initiatives to all students, such as the LeaderShop workshop series for individual leadership development and student organization development programs. The center helps students advance their leadership knowledge and skills and learn how social identities and lived experiences inform and shape their ideas around leadership. Incoming students with a deep interest in leadership can apply for the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows, a four-year cohort experience designed to strengthen each student’s leadership skills and ability to impact themselves, their communities and their worlds.
  5. Service. Students participate in academic service-learning that connects classroom work with needs in the community. They immerse themselves in service through alternative breaks, address food insecurity through Campus Kitchen initiatives and participate in Elon Volunteers!, the student-run hub for volunteerism at Elon. The Kernodle Center for Civic Life partners with local and global communities to advance student learning, leadership and citizenship, connecting students with volunteer opportunities at nonprofit, education and government agencies.