3 things to know about proposed Queens, Elon University merger — including the name
Queens University of Charlotte and Elon University on Tuesday announced they plan to merge next year.
At the conclusion of the merger, which is expected to come in August, Elon will operate Queens “in partnership with existing and legacy leaders,” the universities announced in a news release.
Queens is a private university in Myers Park with a total enrollment of about 1,800, according to the school’s website. Elon is located in a town by the same name about 20 miles east of Greensboro. It’s also a private school and has a total enrollment of about 7,300 students.
Here’s what to know about the merger:
1. Queens was looking for ways to grow
When Queens University’s former president Daniel Lugo announced his departure in December to become president of Trinity College in Connecticut, Queens’ Board of Trustees started working with consultants to identify opportunities for growth.
Pamela Davies, past president and current business professor at Queens University, suggested collaborating with Elon on graduate program partnerships, Acting Queens President Jesse Cureton said. Cureton was the chair of the Queens Board of Trustees at the time.
“Elon has been the North Star for Queens for quite some time,” Cureton said. “We decided, if we were interested in partnerships, we were interested in something much bigger than that.”
A full merger entered the conversation about four months ago, he said.
“We both bring strengths to the process,” said Cureton. “We’re building upon the legacy of these two universities and leaning into that with a really strong partner.”
Both schools have lower enrollment than prior years this fall: Elon’s new-student enrollment decreased by 12% between fall 2024 and 2025, while Queens saw a new student enrollment decrease of 13%.
“We were able to offset most of it with graduate student growth, but this is the reality for the United States,” Book said. “They call it a ‘demographic cliff’: there’s fewer people having children, so there will be fewer high school graduates.”
For private schools, such as Elon and Queens, a hit to enrollment also means a serious hit to revenue.
Queens University had approximately $108.4 million in outstanding debt at the end of the 2024 fiscal year, according to S&P Global. Last year, the university also announced budget cuts after missing an enrollment goal.
With the merger, the universities will join their combined $2 billion in assets and have an endowment of about $600 million.
2. A lot is still undetermined — including the new name
The two schools signed an “intent to merge” agreement, Elon President Connie Book told The Charlotte Observer, but the parameters haven’t been set yet.
“For the foreseeable future, things will look a lot the same,” Book said.
Cureton said there are not likely to be drastic shifts in staffing or leadership at Queens for at least two to three years.
The Queens Board of Trustees will continue to be active for about four years, while current Queens students are enrolled. Then, 10 Queens board members will join Elon’s Board of Trustees, which currently has 37 members, to form one 47-member board.
For the next few months, leaders from both universities will conduct listening tours to hear from students, faculty and community members, Book said Tuesday. That includes feedback about what to call the school.
“Both Queens and Elon cherish their legacy and history, and as we go to this next phase working with consultants, this will be a ‘we’ decision,” Cureton said. “Continuing to build a strong brand while honoring legacy.”
Book said Elon is “committed” to keeping the Queens brand as part of the school’s naming structure.
“Queens has a special place in the heart of the city because of its legacy there and its contributions to higher education,” Book said. “So, we’ll want the new name to preserve that.”
Cureton said both schools, which are Division I, will maintain their own sports teams.
3. For Elon, it’s the latest – but not the only – effort to strengthen its foothold in the Queen City
Elon University launched its Charlotte regional center in South End in 2023. There, it offers classes through its graduate Law Flex Program, currently the city’s only law school. It plans to open a 150-seat physician assistant program at the facility in January 2027.
“Being in Charlotte, you’re on this cutting edge of innovation, and we want to prepare students for those opportunities,” Book said Tuesday. “Charlotte is like a palette of opportunity for them.”
Book said the university will continue to operate its South End campus – it recently invested around $10 million in the facility in preparation for opening its PA program. Elon students at the South End campus will be able to utilize Queens’ campus resources, such as the library, recreation center and dining hall.
About 3,000 Elon alumni currently reside in Charlotte, Book said.
