How will NC merger between Elon, Queens play out? Other schools offer clues
Queens University of Charlotte’s planned merger with Elon University has left students, faculty and alumni wondering what comes next.
The two private schools announced this week they intend to merge by August 2026, with Elon set to operate Queens. Leaders say the deal is designed to create a “stronger, more sustainable model of higher education” in Charlotte, according to a news release, and both campuses are expected to remain open.
So what will a merger like this actually mean for students, staff and alumni? How other colleges have handled similar deals may offer clues. The Charlotte Observer spoke to officials involved in two ongoing mergers about their experience so far.
Why do schools decide to merge?
The decision to merge Elon University with Queens University in Charlotte is based on Charlotte’s growth and opportunity, shared school values and longevity for the institutions, the news release states. The merger also boosts the financial standing of Queens University, as the universities will combine $2 billion in assets, the Observer reported. It also helps Elon establish a presence in the fast-growing Charlotte market.
For Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, the merger was a chance for Gannon to grow into a new market while staying aligned with its Catholic mission, Gannon’s Chief of Staff Doug Oathout told the Observer. For Ursuline, which enrolls about 1,000 students, it offered stability and a new sponsor after the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland could no longer continue in that role. Gannon has over 4,600 students enrolled.
At Russell Sage College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, New York, both presidents told the Observer that neither school needed to merge, but saw an opportunity to expand offerings. Russell Sage has nearly 3,000 students enrolled, while ACPHS has around 900.
“We realized we could create a better experience for our students and our community by doing that work,” Russell Sage College President Matt Shaftel said.
Shaftel said pairing the pharmacy-focused school with Russell Sage’s liberal arts, education and business programs created “the perfect puzzle pieces together.”
Will tuition change?
Queens interim President Jesse Cureton said there will not be any immediate changes to tuition for existing students, QCity Metro reported.
At Gannon, where the merger is set to be complete in June 2026, tuition will not change in the near term, Oathout said. Decisions about aligning tuition will come later.
In Albany, ACPHS president Toyin Tofade said both institutions plan to maintain current tuition structures and ensure students are grandfathered in. Shaftel said both schools have similar price points, which makes alignment easier.
What about athletics and mascots?
Details on how the merger will impact the two NCAA Division I programs at Queens and Elon have yet to be decided, WCNC reported.
At Gannon and Ursuline, Oathout said both schools will keep their sports programs and mascots. The two campuses are roughly 100 miles from each other. Both schools compete at the NCAA Division II level.
“The Ursuline Arrows are going to be the Ursuline Arrows, Gannon Golden Knights are going to still be the Gannon Golden Knights,” he said.
At Russell Sage and ACPHS, athletics will be maintained too. Shaftel said the schools promised current student-athletes they could continue competing, and both mascots will remain.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that we have two mascots going forward, so that we can feel that spirit and really acknowledge that history,” he said.
Will faculty and staff lose jobs?
Cureton also said that at Queens there are not likely to be big changes in staffing for a few years.
At Ursuline and Gannon, the plan is to fully retain faculty and staff at both institutions. At Russell Sage and ACPHS, leaders made the same commitment.
“Our agreement is that we will take on 100% of the tenure-track faculty from both schools into the merged entity,” Shaftel said.
Staff will largely be retained as well, with natural attrition expected to cover most overlap.
What happens to the name?
No decision has been made yet about Queens University’s name, though the Queens brand is expected to remain in some capacity, the Observer reported.
“Queens has a special place in the heart of the city because of its legacy there and its contributions to higher education,” Elon President Connie Book said. “So, we’ll want the new name to preserve that.”
In Pepper Pike, Ursuline will be branded the “Ursuline College Campus of Gannon University.”
At Russell Sage and ACPHS, the merged institution will be called Russell Sage University, with ACPHS carrying the sub-brand “Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage.”
“That allows the diploma to read Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Russell Sage,” Shaftel said. “It gives the alums a real connection.”
How long does a merger take?
The merger between Queens and Elon is expected to wrap up by August 2026.
At Gannon, Oathout said talks about a merger began in mid-2024. The first step, “change of control,” happened June 30, when Gannon assumed financial responsibility for Ursuline. The full merger is expected in June 2026 after approvals from accrediting bodies, the state and the U.S. Department of Education.
At Russell Sage and ACPHS, the merger began about 15 months ago. Shaftel said the process has moved through several stages: an initial letter of intent, a binding legal agreement finalized in July, and now a wait for state, regional accreditor and federal sign-offs. The schools expect to move into shared ownership in mid-2026, but the timeline for federal approval is unclear.
“It could take zero months … or it could take as long as 12 months,” Shaftel said. “So somewhere between June of 2026 and June of 2027 is where we’re hoping things will land.”
Oathout said mergers can be timely and difficult.
“This is not like buying a car,” he said. “You’re dealing with cultural issues, regulatory issues, accrediting issues, and people’s lives. None of it is easy.”
Elon, Queens merger details ‘sound really good’
Shaftel said Russell Sage College and ACPHS held a conference this week where they discussed the Elon and Queens announcement. The conversation included education consulting group Huron, which he said is working with both schools on their mergers. Shaftel and Tofade are excited to see how the merger plays out in Charlotte, they said.
“The underpinnings sound really good for the community in Charlotte,” Shaftel said. “The students should feel really confident that this is a merger that will support their future… Elon has always been a very student focused institution, so has Queens. So we’re really excited to see what that does for the community.”
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
