Funding a college education is an investment for families. Our office wants to help make sure our students and families have the resources they need to plan for an Elon education. Here’s a blog post providing a quick overview of merit-based and need-based aid at Elon to help navigate the college search process.
Merit-Based Aid
- Presidential Scholarship: Presidential Scholarships of $4,500 annually are awarded to approximately the top 15 percent of entering first-year students each year. The awards are based on the student’s academic profile. No separate application is needed. Scholarships are automatically awarded to students who meet the necessary criteria when the completed admissions application is reviewed. Presidential Scholarships are renewable each year pending acceptable academic performance. Students find out of if they are recipients of this scholarship when they receive an admissions decision from the university.
- Elon Engagement Scholarship: The Elon Engagement Scholarship is an award designed for promising students who embody the spirit and values of the university. Every first-year applicant will be a candidate for this $3,500 scholarship, which is renewable annually. In addition, each recipient will be given a one-time $2,000 grant to be used for an approved Elon Experience or project. The admissions committee utilizes the student’s essay and extracurricular resume as the primary factors for consideration of this award. Students find out of if they are recipients of this scholarship when they receive an admissions decision from the university. Click here for more information on Elon Engagement.
- Fellows Programs: The Elon Fellows programs are selective, four-year programs that offer academically talented students exciting advantages like special courses, guaranteed internships, paid research assistantships, faculty mentoring, grants for study abroad and Fellows scholarships. The amount of money awarded varies depending on program, and not every Fellow will receive a scholarship. However, any scholarship received can be combined with the Presidential or Elon Engagement Scholarship if applicable. The Fellows application is a separate application from the first-year application and is located here. You do not need to be admitted to Elon in order to apply for Fellows, but you must have submitted a first-year application to be considered. The deadline for the Fellows Application is January 10, no matter which deadline the student applies under.
Need-Based Aid
Elon asks for 3 documents in order to be considered for all available need-based aid:
- FAFSA (application for federal aid)
- CSS Profile (application for private colleges and universities)
- Elon Aid Application (application for university-based money)
A great way for families to gauge if an Elon education is within reach is to utilize our Net Price Calculator. This is not a guarantee of aid, but it provides an estimate of what need-based aid a family may receive from Elon. Please remember that information received via the Net Price Calculator is based on the information entered by the individual.
Another need-based aid program we offer is the Watson & Odyssey Scholars Program. The Watson and Odyssey Program, which is part of The Center for Access and Success, was created as a means of assistance for students poised to take advantage of an Elon education but for whom this possibility might not be an option for financial reasons. Students selected for the program are recipients of a number of prestigious, endowed scholarships. To see if you might qualify and to apply, please go here.
Students should apply early for need-based aid! This improves your chances for receiving the maximum aid for which you are eligible. We give priority to applications which are complete in our office for review by mid-March. To meet this deadline, you should complete and submit all applications and forms no later than mid-February. Aid packages cannot be released until all required documents are complete and received. No first-year student will be awarded aid until the student has been accepted for admission to Elon University; however, you should not wait until you have been accepted to apply for aid.
Here’s a timeline and more information if you want to apply for need-based aid. If you still have questions about need-based aid, please email finaid@elon.edu.
General Things to Know about Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Elon is consistently ranked a “Best Value” institution. Please review the bottom line as you compare college costs.
- Our aid can be combined. For example, a student could receive a Presidential or Elon Engagement scholarship in addition to a Fellows scholarship. If need-based aid applies, this could be added as well.
- We allow students to receive third-party scholarships. In fact, we encourage it! This money can be used to help fund an Elon education.
- Students who receive a Presidential Scholarship cannot receive an Elon Engagement Scholarship (and vice versa). Students are also not guaranteed one of these scholarships at the time of admission. Students can be admitted to the university and not receive either the Presidential or Elon Engagement.
- Tuition & Fees for 2013-14