In the current economic climate, small, regional, private colleges are under something akin to a death watch. Some are closing, a few slash their budgets, close academic departments and survive, if barely, by awarding mammoth tuition discounts. But a few come to terms with the unsustainability of regionalism and choose to reinvent themselves. Quinnipiac in Connecticut and Chapman in California are good examples of this, but Elon may be the gold standard. In the mid 70’s Elon had just over 1000 students, most from North Carolina. Now it’s over 6,000, its student body is national, its academic programs are robust, and its finances are strong. Through deft leadership, Elon has transformed itself into a thoroughly impressive institution.
The academic program is structured with separate colleges of arts & sciences, business, education, communications, a health sciences graduate school and a small law school. Like many colleges at this size, pre-professioinal programs dominate, but unlike say, Quinnipiac, Elon seems completely committed to its historic liberal arts orientation. The student I met, a freshman from New England, intended on a double major in French and Classics. Oh and here’s something interesting: the Classics major is new in 2021. That’s walking the walk on the liberal arts commitment.
Much of the campus was destroyed in a catastrophic fire in the 1920’s, so while a few of the original buildings remain, much of the physical plant is modern. That hints at an antiseptic campus of cheap, souless Modernism, but the opposite is true. While Elon falls prey to the predictable college-brick monotony, the buildings fit with the older structures, are impeccably maintained and are surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds. One minute on this campus and it’s pretty clear how gorgeous it is.
The cute village of Elon NC adjoins campus and consists of a strip of cafes, restaurants, gift shops and the college bookstore. Nearby Burlington has the big box stores.
Elon, despite all its success, is not terribly hard to get into. And that’s a real plus for the good student shut out by the uber-selectives. It’s hard not to admire an institution with the imagination and leadership to remake itself without selling its soul in the process. As other schools of the type Elon used to be stumble their way to mediocrity–or worse–Elon has found the ticket to success. This is a remarkable institution that will only get better. Keep an eye on this place.