3+Co-op Program

Build Experience. Be a Leader of Consequence.

At the Elon Center for Humanity in Business at ��޹��Ʒ students lead at the intersection of profit and purpose.

As leaders of consequence, students learn how to combine ambition with integrity, understand the responsibilities that come with influence and make decisions that create lasting value not just for shareholders, but also for employees, customers, suppliers, communities and society.

Elon’s 3+Co-op program in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business is the flagship undergraduate experience of the Center for Humanity in Business. The program combines:

rigorous business education grounded in stakeholder capitalism,
deep process of values discernment and leadership formation,
and a full-time fourth-year co-op experience in Charlotte, one of America’s fastest-growing business hubs.

You’ll spend three years on Elon’s campus followed by one year living and working full-time in Charlotte.

Program Benefits

Build a close community of purpose-driven business leaders.
Reside in a Living-Learning Community (LLC) during your first year and move through key experiences with your peers over four years. Cohort-based courses emphasize the sustainable practices of stakeholder capitalism, ethical reasoning, leadership, values discernment, systems thinking and global awareness.

Develop a personal leadership philosophy grounded in values and consequence.
Through reflective exercises, mentorship, dialogue and real-world case analysis, you’ll explore what it means to lead responsibly in environments where competing stakeholder interests, financial pressures and ethical complexity often collide.

Experience one-on-one mentorship from nationally respected business leaders.
Industry leaders will mentor you throughout the program, modeling what it means to succeed with integrity and impact:

Noah Bopp, founder and head of The School for Ethics and Global Leadership
Mike Faircloth ’86 P’16, former president of global operations for Hanesbrands Inc.
Andrew Greenfield P’24 P’29, retired CEO of AbioMed
Bill Johnson, retired CEO of Progress Energy
Christina Peterson ’10, head of Search Ads 360 | U.S. Pharma, Healthcare and Travel at Google
John Replogle P’18 P’25, partner at One Better Ventures and former CEO of Seventh Generation Inc.
Jack Ryan P’17, senior adviser at Rockefeller Capital Management
Kevin Trapani P’08 ’23 ’24, retired founder and CEO of The Redwoods Group and founding director of the Elon Center for Humanity in Business

Learn from faculty experts in business and society.
Engage in rigorous coursework that challenges you to balance people, sustainability, innovation, profit and shareholder value while developing the analytical and strategic skills required of high-performing business leaders.

Build fluency in AI, analytics and decision-making.
Interactive workshops, simulations and applied client experiences help you develop expertise in AI applications, data collection, analysis, communication and strategic problem-solving.

Engage directly with visionary organizations.
Interact with leaders from organizations such as Patagonia, REI, Habitat for Humanity, JetZero, Toyota and Unilever to explore how organizations create long-term value while navigating complex societal challenges.

Explore humane business practices around the world through immersive January-term travel experiences.
Examine the intersection of business, labor, public policy, sustainability and human flourishing through faculty-led international experiences currently under development in Europe and Southeast Asia. Proposed programs include visits to organizations and social enterprises in several European and Asian countries, where students will study stakeholder capitalism, workforce well-being, responsible supply chains, manufacturing practices and the evolving role of business in society. These experiences are designed to deepen cultural agility while helping you understand how organizations navigate tensions among profit, people and purpose in very different economic and political environments.

Spend your fourth year living and working in Charlotte.
The co-op experience is a cornerstone of the Center for Humanity in Business. In your fourth year, you will live and work full-time in Charlotte while completing remaining coursework in a flexible format.

Co-op placements may include consulting, finance, analytics, strategy and management roles with organizations such as EY, Bank of America and Atrium Health. You’ll gain significant professional experience while exploring how business decisions affect employees, customers, communities and long-term organizational performance.

Charlotte’s dynamic business environment becomes an extension of the classroom, offering exposure to corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, civic partnerships and emerging models of responsible business.

Graduate ready to lead in consequential environments.
Complete the program with substantial professional experience, a strong ethical and analytical foundation and the ability to lead thoughtfully in competitive and rapidly changing organizations.

Scholarship

Up to thirty students receive a $12,000 Presidential Scholarship renewable annually as long as they remain in good standing.

Who should apply?

The 3+Co-op program is competitive and accepts only a limited number of incoming first-year students. Students with a record of leadership and service — and a minimum 3.8 GPA — who plan to major in accounting, business analytics, economic consulting, economics, entrepreneurship & innovation, finance, financial technology, human resource management, international business, marketing, project management or supply chain management are encouraged to apply.

The program is designed for students who aspire not only to succeed in business, but also to shape organizations and systems that contribute positively to society.

Students interested in the 3+Co-op program may also apply to the Business Fellows and Honors programs.

How to apply

Apply for first-year admission to Elon

Complete and submit the Common Application or an ��޹��Ʒ application, along with the $60 application fee, official high school transcript(s) and the completed Secondary School Report Form no later than the following dates.

Early Decision: November 1
Early Action: November 1
Regular Deadline: January 10*

*If applying Regular Deadline, submit your first-year application by November 15 and the 3+Co-op application by December 1.

Submit the 3+Co-op application by December 1

Students applying to the 3+Co-op program may access the application via their Elon Acorn Account (admissions.elon.edu/status) following submission of the first-year application. Students applying via the Common Application will receive their Acorn Account log-in information one day after submitting the first-year application.

Note: Decisions for the 3+Co-op program will not be available until after January 10, which is the enrollment commitment date for Early Decision applicants. Students who need scholarship information prior to making their enrollment commitment should not apply Early Decision.

The following information might be helpful as you consider applying for the 3+Co-op program:

Finalists will be notified through their Acorn Accounts in mid-December at the same their first-year admission decisions are released. Interviews will take place February 6-7, 2026. Finalists who apply under the Regular Deadline will receive their first-year admissions decision at the time of the invitation to the weekend.

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