Head-to-head comparison
Elon University vs Wake Forest University: which has better ROI?
Option A Elon, NC
Elon University
- Net price / year
- $41,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,545
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
Option B Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University
- Net price / year
- $28,719
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,158
- Payback
- 3.9 yrs
Wake Forest University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,876 in 3.9 years versus 6.3 years at Elon University, on median earnings of $78,158 vs $74,545 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elon University | Wake Forest University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,555 | $28,719 |
| Total net cost | $166,220 | $114,876 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,545 | $78,158 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $357,480 | $481,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Elon University or Wake Forest University?
Wake Forest University, at $28,719 a year after aid versus $41,555 — a gap of $12,836 a year, or $51,344 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Elon University or Wake Forest University graduates earn more?
Wake Forest University graduates report a median $78,158 ten years after entry, $3,613 more than the $74,545 at Elon University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Elon University or Wake Forest University?
Elon University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Wake Forest University, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Wake Forest University, against 84% at Elon University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.