Admit rate has ranged 66%–76% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Elmhurst University is a small, welcoming liberal arts school in suburban Chicago that punches above its weight with surprisingly robust career outcomes. With a 48-acre arboretum campus, a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, and an unpretentious 74% acceptance rate, it's the kind of place where nursing majors rub shoulders with jazz studies students—and nearly everyone graduates with manageable debt.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
3,006
In-state tuition
$42,955
Out-of-state tuition
$42,955
Location
Elmhurst, IL (suburban Chicago)
Campus Size
48-acre arboretum
Sticker Price
$66,670 (tuition + room/board)
Acceptance Rate
74%
Graduation Rate
65%
Avg Need-Based Aid
$34,964
Student-Faculty Ratio
15:1
Median Earnings 1 Yr After Grad
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$61,462
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.5×
Median debt at graduation
$20,489
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
80%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
71%
Pell (lower-income) share
57%
First-generation share
35%
Endowment / student
$59,055
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$63,832
Accounting and Related Services$55,964
Finance and Financial Management Services$54,209
Marketing$51,690
Economics$48,823
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
1.33
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
85
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
21°F
Annual rain
47.7"
Annual snow
31.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Elmhurst University?
Elmhurst University's acceptance rate is approximately 74% (Elmhurst, IL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Elmhurst University?
Admitted students at Elmhurst University typically score 990–1260 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Elmhurst University cost?
At Elmhurst University, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,185 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Elmhurst University?
Elmhurst University enrolls approximately 3,006 undergraduate students.
Where is Elmhurst University located?
Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, IL.
Admissions
Elmhurst University is decidedly not a hyper-selective institution—its 74% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (from 6,247 applicants in recent cycles) makes it accessible to a broad range of students. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 990-1260 on the SAT or 19-25 on the ACT, though the university has been Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. since at least 2022. Notably, about half of applicants who are admitted end up enrolling, suggesting Elmhurst is often a 'safety school' for students aiming higher. The admissions office emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone., with no mention of minimum GPA requirements.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$45,383
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$42,682
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,276
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
With 70+ undergraduate majors—from accounting to theatre—Elmhurst offers surprising breadth for a school of its size. The 15:1 student-faculty ratio means over half of classes have fewer than 20 students. While no programs are explicitly flagged as 'standout,' the mix of pre-professional tracks (nursing, business) with traditional liberal arts (art history, jazz studies) suggests a pragmatic approach to the liberal arts. Graduate programs are limited (just 17 options), reinforcing Elmhurst's identity as an undergraduate-focused institution. Quora reviews hint at 'academic flexibility'—easy major changes and interdisciplinary opportunities—as a selling point.
Life on Elmhurst's 48-acre arboretum campus revolves around its tight-knit community. Over 100 student organizations range from Greek life to intramurals, with alumni praising the 'welcoming, inclusive' vibe. The red-brick buildings and manicured grounds get consistently high marks for aesthetics and maintenance. Located in a charming Chicago suburb (just 30 minutes from downtown), the campus offers small-town coziness with big-city access. One Facebook reviewer calls it a 'hidden gem'—a sentiment echoed by Niche users who highlight the 'flexible' classroom spaces and 'high level of hospitality.'
Elmhurst's 65% graduation rate lands it in the top 35% nationally—respectable for a school with modest admissions standards. Forbes ranks it among America's top 500 colleges, and alumni earn a median $36,427 one year post-graduation (slightly below the national average for private colleges). The university emphasizes its 'highly favorable' completion rates, though hard data on job placement by major is scarce. Notably, the College Scorecard shows Elmhurst graduates outperform peers from similar institutions in earnings, suggesting the career services office delivers value.
At $66,670 total sticker price ($44,884 tuition + $15,262 room/board), Elmhurst isn't cheap—but 81% of first-years receive need-based aid, averaging $34,964. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests income-driven pricing: families earning under $30k pay ~$29k, while those over $110k pay ~$34k. After aid, the average student pays $22,760—still above the national average, but with lower debt loads than many private peers. Merit scholarships aren't detailed, but the university boasts that 'most' students pay 'much lower' than the sticker price.
Elmhurst's magic lies in its Goldilocks balance: big enough to offer 70+ majors, small enough for personal attention; rigorous without being cutthroat; suburban but near Chicago. The arboretum campus and red-brick aesthetic give it a classic college feel, while the pragmatic curriculum (strong in nursing, business, and education) keeps outcomes solid. It's the kind of school where a jazz studies major might land a gig in the city—or pivot to marketing—without drowning in debt. For students who want a supportive, unpretentious launchpad within reach of a major metro, Elmhurst delivers.
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