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Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, Elmira College provides a collaborative and supportive environment that enables students to become active learners, effective leaders, responsible community members, and globally engaged citizens.
The legacy of academic excellence at Elmira College runs deep with a heritage and culture that have been forward-thinking from day one, as the first college for women with a course study equivalent to men's.
At Elmira, you’ll have opportunities that shape your future, raise your sights and equip you with targeted tools and skills to succeed in the professional world. Join a community that’s close-knit, fun-loving, and just the right amount of quirky.
Elmira College makes a private education more affordable than you realize, with a number of ways to get the financial assistance you may need. Our financial aid office can guide you through options, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs.
Elmira College includes meeting students from around the world, participating in Elmira traditions, completing community service projects, and hopping into a pickup kickball game.
Elmira College provides you with a foundation for future success.
The home of the three-time NCAA National Champion Elmira College Soaring Eagles.
Elmira College alumni stay connected and engaged with the College long after they graduate.
Gifts to Elmira College ensure excellent academic and co-curricular opportunities for generations of EC students.
Check out our news section to learn about all that's going on at Elmira College.
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With over 35 majors and minor areas of concentration, Elmira College lays the foundation for a diverse, cross discipline education, encouraging you to both specialize and explore.
Looking for registration deadlines, spring break or when grades are due? Our academic calendar has all of the important events for this academic year.
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Elmira is dedicated to keeping higher education affordable, offering a first-class education at one of the lowest costs compared to other private colleges and universities in the region. Every student accepted for admission is automatically reviewed for undergraduate merit scholarships and awards.
Undergraduate scholarships and awards are available to both first-time, full-time freshmen and transfer students. Academic and specialty awards may be available to you, based on your GPA, optional ACT or SAT test scores, merit, co-curricular activities, financial need, and even geographic location.
"Thanks to the College's generous full tuition scholarship, it has made College affordable in ways I had never thought possible."
–Jazmine Elliott '26
Our undergraduate merit-based scholarships recognize your achievements and character.
The Founder Scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen 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 grade point average, academic curriculum, academic letters of recommendation, and co-curricular involvement.
This merit-based award is presented to outstanding students in their junior year of high school or preparatory school. The Key Award winner receives an $88,000 scholarship distributed over a four-year period upon enrolling at Elmira College.
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.
The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to incoming 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, academic letters of recommendation, and co-curricular involvement.
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.
Celebrating the founding year of Elmira College, the 1855 Award recognizes students who exemplify outstanding leadership through involvement in clubs, organizations, the performing arts, and more. While academic criteria are considered, priority is given to a student's co-curricular resume.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholars receive our most prestigious scholarship to pursue a four-year degree at a nationally ranked, private college. To be considered, you must:
The Transfer Achievement Award is awarded to transfer students based on excellence in both their academics and co-curricular activities.
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. Recipients are involved in community service and show deep school pride.
Elmira's top merit scholarship awarded to a transfer student, this award looks at the cumulative grade point average of all previous college coursework and continuous co-curricular involvement.
Explore high-impact grant and scholarship options designed for New York State residents and/or top-performing applicants.
Elmira's most competitive program awards five full-tuition scholarships annually to exceptional first-year, full-time undergraduate students.
Through the need-based Soaring Eagles Take Flight Initiative, Elmira College covers out-of-pocket costs for undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees for eligible incoming undergraduate New York State students.
Elmira College has made a commitment to help support students from neighboring states by offering the Good Neighbor Award. This award guarantees that eligible residents of PA, CT, MA, NJ, and RI, will receive the equivalent of their state grant, funded by Elmira College, up to $5,750 per year.
To receive this award, students must apply for and provide proof of their state grant eligibility to the Office of Financial Aid.
For Pennsylvania residents: Students in the four Northern PA counties of Potter, Tioga, Bradford, and Susquehanna may also qualify for the Northern Tier Advantage Award.
To celebrate the contributions our local Pennsylvania students make on campus, 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.
These unique financial aid options consider student achievements and personal interests.
First-year and transfer students who earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and the Gold Award in Girl Scouts of the USA receive a $2,500 annual award. This award is renewable annually for up to four years of continuous, full-time undergraduate enrollment (totaling $10,000). Plus, this award is added to other scholarships a student receives (up to full tuition costs) upon FAFSA filing.
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.
Elmira College offers specialized performance and art scholarships for applicants based on talent. Currently, these awards include:
For additional information on each award and to submit your name for an award, visit our Talent Awards page.
Students enrolled in the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Business School will receive a $3,000 annual scholarship. This award is renewable for up to 4 years if you stay enrolled full-time in the program and maintain satisfactory academic standing.
You can also apply for a $4,000 award in your final year to cover internship travel or housing costs.
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:
You are considered a domestic student if you are:
What this means for you:
You are considered an international student if you:
What this means for you:
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.
Do I need a separate application to apply for Elmira College scholarships?
Most undergraduate merit awards (including the Presidential, Founder, and Transfer scholarships) do not require a separate application. You are automatically evaluated upon applying for admission.
However, select competitive or specialty programs, including the Elmira Scholars Program, Talent Awards, and the Sustainability Scholarship, require supplemental applications.
Do transfer students qualify for merit scholarships at Elmira College?
Yes. Elmira College offers dedicated transfer student scholarships, including the PTK Scholarship, Transfer Honor Scholarship, and Transfer Achievement Award. These awards evaluate college GPA and co-curricular history.
Does Elmira College offer full-tuition scholarships?
Yes. Elmira awards five full-tuition scholarships each year through the competitive Elmira Scholars Program. Additionally, New York State residents meeting income guidelines may receive full tuition coverage under the Soaring Eagles Take Flight Initiative.
Are test scores (SAT/ACT) required to qualify for merit scholarships?
Elmira College is test-optional. Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) are not considered to qualify for undergraduate academic merit scholarships. Merit awards are evaluated on your high school or college cumulative GPA, curriculum rigor, and co-curricular involvement.
Can international students receive scholarships at Elmira College?
Yes. While international students are ineligible for U.S. federal and state aid, Elmira College considers international applicants for institutional scholarships and our Global Gateway Award.
