Countless Opportunities for All Students

Elmira is dedicated to keeping higher education affordable, offering a first-class education at a low cost compared to any four-year private college or university in the region. Students accepted for admission are automatically reviewed for a scholarship or award. 

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"Thanks to the College's generous full tuition scholarship, it has made College affordable in ways I had never thought possible."
–Jazmine Elliott '26
 

Undergraduate Scholarships & Awards

Elmira offers scholarships and awards that recognize your academic and personal achievements. Available to first-time, full-time freshmen, scholarships and awards may be awarded based on your high school GPA and/or ACT or SAT scores, your co-curricular activities, or even geographic location. The Elmira Scholars Program Scholarship is the College's most generous and competitive four-year, merit-based scholarship. Check below for a list of available scholarships and awards.

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1855 Award

The 1855 Award recognizes students who exemplify outstanding leadership through involvement in clubs, organizations, the performing arts, and more. While academic criteria are used in awarding the 1855 Award, priority is given to a student's co-curricular resume.

Elmira Scholars Program

Elmira's most competitive program awards five full-tuition scholarships annually to first-year, full-time undergraduate students. A select number of finalists will be invited to campus in February for an Elmira Scholars Program Day, including interviews and presentations to committee members. 

Elmira Scholars Homepage

Founder Scholarship

The Founder Scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit the ideals of Elmira College's founder, Simeon Benjamin, through excellence in academics and co-curricular activities. This scholarship considers a high school student's high school grade point average, academic curriculum, ACT or SAT score (if submitted), academic letters of recommendation, and co-curricular involvement.

Good Neighbor Award

Beginning with the Fall 2025 term, Elmira College has made a commitment to help support Pennsylvania students by offering the Good Neighbor PHEAA match program. The Good Neighbor match guarantees eligible PA residents will receive the equivalent of their Pennsylvania state grant funded by Elmira College up to $5,600 per year. To receive this award students must apply for and provide proof of their PHEAA eligibility to the Office of Financial Aid. Students in the four Northern PA counties of Potter, Tioga, Bradford, and Susquehanna may also qualify for the Northern Tier Advantage Award.

Langdon Award

Named after Olivia Langdon Clemens, an Elmira, New York, native from the Class of 1864 and the wife of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (most famously known as Mark Twain), this scholarship is awarded to first-time, full-time students based on academic and cocurricular accomplishments, character, and leadership.

Northern Tier Advantage Award

To celebrate the contributions our local Pennsylvania students make on campus, starting in Fall 2025 students from Potter, Tioga (PA), Bradford, and Susquehanna counties in Pennsylvania who reside on campus will receive an additional $2,000 per year. This award is not need based and is granted to all students from these four counties who file the FAFSA. Students may also qualify for the Good Neighbor Award.

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit the ideals of Elmira College, through excellence in academics and co-curricular activities. This scholarship considers a high school student's high school grade point average, academic curriculum, ACT or SAT score (if submitted), academic letters of recommendation, and co-curricular involvement.

Soaring Eagle Award

The Soaring Eagle Award is given to a first-time, full-time student who exemplifies Elmira's mission of embodying active learning, effective leadership, responsible community membership, and globally engaged citizenry through a collaborative and supportive environment.

Sustainability Scholarship

This $1,000 annual scholarship is awarded to an outside-the-box thinker from each class year who contributes to the environmental, social, and financial sustainability of the Elmira College community. In addition, sustainability leaders will have access to a designated space on campus to work, meet, and convene with each other to share ideas and grow together. 

Sustainability Leaders Homepage

Take Flight Initiative

Under the Soaring Eagles Take Flight Initiative, Elmira College will cover out-of-pocket costs for undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees for new eligible incoming undergraduate New York State students.

Soaring Eagles Take Flight Page

Talent Awards

Elmira College offers several Awards to incoming freshmen based on talent. Currently, these awards include: Art Portfolio, Theatre, Pep Band, Dance, and Cheer.  For additional information on each award and to submit your name for an award, visit our Talent Awards page.

Talent Awards

 

Transfer Scholarships

Elmira offers scholarships that recognize your academic and personal achievements, including the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Scholarship and Elmira’s most prestigious award given to a transfer student, the Transfer Honor Scholarship. Available to full-time transfer students, scholarship money is awarded based on your college GPA and co-curricular involvement unless otherwise noted.  

Four business students meet in a comfortable lounge area

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Phi Theta Kappa Scholars receive our most prestigious scholarship to pursue a four-year degree at a nationally ranked, private college. 

Details of the scholarship are outlined below:

  • You must register as a full-time student.
  • You must remain in good academic standing.
  • You can transfer 60 credits from your current college to Elmira College.
  • You must submit proof of your PTK membership.
  • Before enrollment, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Transfer Honor Scholarship

Elmira's top merit scholarship awarded to a transfer student, this award looks at the cumulative grade point average of all colleges attended and co-curricular involvement throughout college.

Transfer Achievement Award

The Transfer Achievement Award is awarded to transfer students based on excellence in both their academics and co-curricular activities.

Transfer Award

The Transfer Award is designed for full-time transfer students who exemplify the Elmira College mission statement and values showcased in our students since 1855: active learning, effective leadership, responsible community membership, and globally engaged citizenry through a collaborative and supportive environment. They are involved in community service and show deep school pride.

 

Understanding Financial Aid Eligibility: Domestic vs. International Students

At Elmira College, we’re committed to supporting all students in achieving their educational goals. However, eligibility for financial aid differs depending on whether you are classified as a domestic or international student. Here's how it breaks down:

Domestic Students

You are considered a domestic student if you are:

  • A U.S. citizen (including Dual Citizenship)
  • A U.S. permanent resident (green card holder)
  • An eligible non-citizen (including certain visa holders, refugees, or asylees)

What this means for you:

  • You may be eligible for federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • You may qualify for state financial aid, depending on your state of residence
  • You are automatically considered for Elmira College institutional scholarships and grants, based on academic merit, financial need, or both

International Students

You are considered an international student if you:

  • Are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Study in the United States on a non-immigrant visa (such as F-1 or J-1)

What this means for you:

  • You are not eligible for U.S. federal or state financial aid programs, including FAFSA-based aid
  • However, Elmira College offers a range of institutional scholarships and limited need-based aid for international students.
  • You may be required to submit an institutional financial aid application to be considered for this aid

Questions?

We’re here to help! If you're unsure about your status or how to apply for aid, please contact our Office of Admissions or Financial Aid Team. We’ll walk you through the process and make sure you explore every option available.

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