Elon big decline in enrollment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elon acceptance rate for ED: 92%
Acceptance rate for RD: 68%

Makes you wonder how much less selective they need to get to fully enroll.

+1. I grew up in NC and Elon was a joke. People keep saying it’s changed. Which is possible. But then I see this… A friend’s kid got in 2 years ago and attended. Really nice kid, but definitely had some severe challenges— including HFA, anxiety and ADHD. Was very bullied badly and had some Ds and Fs high school freshman and sophomore year in an excellent DMV public high school. Parents moved them to a private school that specialized in LDs, but the kid continued to be a C student at best, despite extensive wraparound services and accommodations. Final GPA was below a 2.0. The kid was also unable to break 900 on the SAT, even with maximum accommodations.

The parents are both highly educated and were very concerned the kid would not be able to attend college, but the kid was accepted at Elon…as full pay (and nowhere else, despite private school college counseling and full pay) One of the parents was a full time remote employee and moved into an off campus apartment. The kid took an PT/reduced load and ended up unofficially living with the parent. The parent wrote most of the kids papers and tutored the kid extensively. And yet the kid still ended up on academic probation and then having to leave. The kid is now living at home and finishing core requirements at NOVA and hoping to transfer to GMU and live at home. Parent is still tracking deadlines, checking homework, tutoring for tests and writing the kid’s papers for them.

I’m not criticizing the kid, whom I have know since they were in pre-school. They are a nice, kind, artistic hard working person who has the potential to be successful in a more hands on, less academic training program. But, who is clearly in over their head even in a community college environment. They aren’t playing video games and slacking. I’m sure they are trying their best. I will criticize the parents for forcing a kid to get a college degree, when the kid cannot succeed even a community college without the parents doing a lot of the work for them.

College isn’t for everyone. If this kid finishes college, the parents will have drained not just the 529, but home equity and retirement to make it happen. And the kid will not have much better employment options than not attending at all. They could have done much better in a skilled trade/ voc tech situation. For example, the kid is into makeup, nails, etc and could have become a licensed esthetician or similar and started their own business with the funds spend on college and supports. Or looked at interior design, graphic design, etc.

Not every kid should go to college. The fact is, Elon accepted her despite clear signs she could not succeed in HS, let alone college. Maybe the rejects are the ones with a sub 2.0/ 900 who aren’t full pay?

[Anonymous]

I think the international visa issues could impact Elon in a second way. It's clear that there has been some very late waitlist movement, i.e. Duke admitting 50 students off the WL recently. Seems to me Elon would be exactly the type of school that would lose students to WL offers and be unable to replace them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For class of 2029. Thoughts?

https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com/article/2025/08/elon-university-class-of-2029-enrollment-decreases-11-6

The whole U.S. student market is going towards the direction of either you go to a T50 national university, or a T20 LAC, or you don’t go at all.

Agreed.

This statement needs some modification. U.S. students will go to the T50 privates, T20 LACs, or state schools. It's schools like Elon - private, not top-tier - that need to compete with in-state options.

+ 1

[Anonymous]

Elon worked really hard to build its brand and reputation up from the 80s and 90s, but if they are really turning away paying students as they claim … that’s just stupid and will hurt students and faculty in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elon acceptance rate for ED: 92%
Acceptance rate for RD: 68%

Makes you wonder how much less selective they need to get to fully enroll.

+1. I grew up in NC and Elon was a joke. People keep saying it’s changed. Which is possible. But then I see this… A friend’s kid got in 2 years ago and attended. Really nice kid, but definitely had some severe challenges— including HFA, anxiety and ADHD. Was very bullied badly and had some Ds and Fs high school freshman and sophomore year in an excellent DMV public high school. Parents moved them to a private school that specialized in LDs, but the kid continued to be a C student at best, despite extensive wraparound services and accommodations. Final GPA was below a 2.0. The kid was also unable to break 900 on the SAT, even with maximum accommodations.

The parents are both highly educated and were very concerned the kid would not be able to attend college, but the kid was accepted at Elon…as full pay (and nowhere else, despite private school college counseling and full pay) One of the parents was a full time remote employee and moved into an off campus apartment. The kid took an PT/reduced load and ended up unofficially living with the parent. The parent wrote most of the kids papers and tutored the kid extensively. And yet the kid still ended up on academic probation and then having to leave. The kid is now living at home and finishing core requirements at NOVA and hoping to transfer to GMU and live at home. Parent is still tracking deadlines, checking homework, tutoring for tests and writing the kid’s papers for them.

I’m not criticizing the kid, whom I have know since they were in pre-school. They are a nice, kind, artistic hard working person who has the potential to be successful in a more hands on, less academic training program. But, who is clearly in over their head even in a community college environment. They aren’t playing video games and slacking. I’m sure they are trying their best. I will criticize the parents for forcing a kid to get a college degree, when the kid cannot succeed even a community college without the parents doing a lot of the work for them.

College isn’t for everyone. If this kid finishes college, the parents will have drained not just the 529, but home equity and retirement to make it happen. And the kid will not have much better employment options than not attending at all. They could have done much better in a skilled trade/ voc tech situation. For example, the kid is into makeup, nails, etc and could have become a licensed esthetician or similar and started their own business with the funds spend on college and supports. Or looked at interior design, graphic design, etc.

Not every kid should go to college. The fact is, Elon accepted her despite clear signs she could not succeed in HS, let alone college. Maybe the rejects are the ones with a sub 2.0/ 900 who aren’t full pay?

Good lord you’re saying all this stuff about your friend and your friend’s kid, on the internet? Not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elon worked really hard to build its brand and reputation up from the 80s and 90s, but if they are really turning away paying students as they claim … that’s just stupid and will hurt students and faculty in the long run.

The problem is if they admitted really low kids and went back to open admission, next year they would fail to yield the top of the class when they see a low profile and 90% acceptance rate. They are betting that some degree of selectivity will be beneficial in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid heading there, they’ve been wonderful so far. Reminds me a lot of my Notre Dame kid’s experience as far as being family friendly with strong marketing. The name does bother me, but we got over it. I’m sure it hurt a little.

You are sending your kid to Elon?

Where the hell do you think the will get a job upon graduation?

That is the reason one goes to college.

Not to mention it’s in a crappy part of NC

I’m confident they’ll be just fine as part of their fellowship program and all the extras it offers. However, the best part is that they are kind and empathetic soul that lifts others and aspires to do good in this world.

Hope you feel better after leaving such an unkind comment on the eve of sending my youngest off.

[Anonymous]

I had never heard of it until last year and I definitely recoiled because of the name. I assumed there was a real link to Musk, whose corporate interests are hard to keep track of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elon acceptance rate for ED: 92%
Acceptance rate for RD: 68%

Makes you wonder how much less selective they need to get to fully enroll.

+1. I grew up in NC and Elon was a joke. People keep saying it’s changed. Which is possible. But then I see this… A friend’s kid got in 2 years ago and attended. Really nice kid, but definitely had some severe challenges— including HFA, anxiety and ADHD. Was very bullied badly and had some Ds and Fs high school freshman and sophomore year in an excellent DMV public high school. Parents moved them to a private school that specialized in LDs, but the kid continued to be a C student at best, despite extensive wraparound services and accommodations. Final GPA was below a 2.0. The kid was also unable to break 900 on the SAT, even with maximum accommodations.

The parents are both highly educated and were very concerned the kid would not be able to attend college, but the kid was accepted at Elon…as full pay (and nowhere else, despite private school college counseling and full pay) One of the parents was a full time remote employee and moved into an off campus apartment. The kid took an PT/reduced load and ended up unofficially living with the parent. The parent wrote most of the kids papers and tutored the kid extensively. And yet the kid still ended up on academic probation and then having to leave. The kid is now living at home and finishing core requirements at NOVA and hoping to transfer to GMU and live at home. Parent is still tracking deadlines, checking homework, tutoring for tests and writing the kid’s papers for them.

I’m not criticizing the kid, whom I have know since they were in pre-school. They are a nice, kind, artistic hard working person who has the potential to be successful in a more hands on, less academic training program. But, who is clearly in over their head even in a community college environment. They aren’t playing video games and slacking. I’m sure they are trying their best. I will criticize the parents for forcing a kid to get a college degree, when the kid cannot succeed even a community college without the parents doing a lot of the work for them.

College isn’t for everyone. If this kid finishes college, the parents will have drained not just the 529, but home equity and retirement to make it happen. And the kid will not have much better employment options than not attending at all. They could have done much better in a skilled trade/ voc tech situation. For example, the kid is into makeup, nails, etc and could have become a licensed esthetician or similar and started their own business with the funds spend on college and supports. Or looked at interior design, graphic design, etc.

Not every kid should go to college. The fact is, Elon accepted her despite clear signs she could not succeed in HS, let alone college. Maybe the rejects are the ones with a sub 2.0/ 900 who aren’t full pay?

Good lord you’re saying all this stuff about your friend and your friend’s kid, on the internet? Not good.

+1 Right? Yuck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid heading there, they’ve been wonderful so far. Reminds me a lot of my Notre Dame kid’s experience as far as being family friendly with strong marketing. The name does bother me, but we got over it. I’m sure it hurt a little.

You are sending your kid to Elon?

Where the hell do you think the will get a job upon graduation?

That is the reason one goes to college.

Not to mention it’s in a crappy part of NC

I’m confident they’ll be just fine as part of their fellowship program and all the extras it offers. However, the best part is that they are kind and empathetic soul that lifts others and aspires to do good in this world.

Hope you feel better after leaving such an unkind comment on the eve of sending my youngest off.

PP is just rude. I know a family -smart, successful, worldly- whose child goes to Elon and is thriving. Best wishes to your student!

[Anonymous]

We looked at Elon last year for DS. Honestly I really liked it because even in February when we visited the campus was pretty and lively, the students seemed very happy and the faculty was engaged and inviting. He was invited into the honors program, which provides a variety of research, mentorship and study abroad opportunities. Overall it was a welcoming environment where DS would have thrived. The only reason he chose elsewhere was for in state tuition. But with the honors program discount Elon’s rate wasn’t bad for a private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid heading there, they’ve been wonderful so far. Reminds me a lot of my Notre Dame kid’s experience as far as being family friendly with strong marketing. The name does bother me, but we got over it. I’m sure it hurt a little.

You are sending your kid to Elon?

Where the hell do you think the will get a job upon graduation?

That is the reason one goes to college.

Not to mention it’s in a crappy part of NC

I’m confident they’ll be just fine as part of their fellowship program and all the extras it offers. However, the best part is that they are kind and empathetic soul that lifts others and aspires to do good in this world.

Hope you feel better after leaving such an unkind comment on the eve of sending my youngest off.

Best of luck to your youngest! I know quite a few fabulous kids who went to Elon - they're now graduates and thriving in their chosen careers. One is in Chicago and the other NYC in better jobs than my friends and I had coming out of a top 10 SLAC. Ignore the unkind comments...what a turd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blaming it on the demographic cliff is interesting. Isn’t the class of 2025 the peak?

Yep, plus the "cliff" is closer to a "false flat," and it doesn't even exist in NC.

Elon has an institution-specific demand problem, and it thinks it needs to reduce its acceptance rate to solve it. But if you depress your natural acceptance rate without simultaneously juicing either your application numbers or your yield, you end up where Elon just landed: under-enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid heading there, they’ve been wonderful so far. Reminds me a lot of my Notre Dame kid’s experience as far as being family friendly with strong marketing. The name does bother me, but we got over it. I’m sure it hurt a little.

You are sending your kid to Elon?

Where the hell do you think the will get a job upon graduation?

That is the reason one goes to college.

Not to mention it’s in a crappy part of NC

I’m confident they’ll be just fine as part of their fellowship program and all the extras it offers. However, the best part is that they are kind and empathetic soul that lifts others and aspires to do good in this world.

Hope you feel better after leaving such an unkind comment on the eve of sending my youngest off.

PP is just rude. I know a family -smart, successful, worldly- whose child goes to Elon and is thriving. Best wishes to your student!

Using the word "thriving" is so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brands become tainted. It was already a school most people only learn about during their search. Now they hear it like a half written joke.

+1

Kids choose colleges based on “vibe” and “fit”. They will not consider a school if they don’t like the campus layout, or school colors, or mascot. “Elon” is going to need some marketing and rebranding to separate itself from the idiot who like the letter X and get kids who know nothing about the school to look at it again.