Elmira College Honored for Exemplary Transfer Pathways

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently named Elmira College to its 2025 Transfer Honor Roll. This distinction recognizes EC for developing academic programs of interest to community college students and providing transfer support, making it easier for those students to earn their four-year degrees.

“We’re honored to have been selected again as a Phi Theta Kappa honor roll member,” said Jennifer Robinson, Elmira College Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions. “Elmira College values the great contributions that transfer students make inside and outside the classroom. As we grow our relationships with community colleges, we can continue to build seamless transfer processes and strengthen our transfer population."

EC is continually reducing financial barriers for transfer students. For example, all PTK members, regardless of state or international residency, receive the EC PTK Scholarship, which is the largest academic award given to transfers at Elmira College. The award is renewed each year for those who qualify.

Last week, EC announced a new Scout Achievement award open to both first-year and transfer students. Effective for students entering Fall 2026 and beyond, students who qualify will receive a $2,500 annual award that’s renewable for up to four years of continuous, full-time undergraduate enrollment. The maximum four-year award totals $10,000. What’s more, this award will not replace, but is added to, any awards a student receives, except where a student is already receiving the full cost of tuition.

Adding to that, EC will soon announce details about a new scholarship benefitting transfer students in New York.

“We've put together an innovative scholarship that will help cover the costs of full-time tuition for eligible New York state PTK members pursuing their baccalaureate degree as a full-time student,” shared Dennis Kelly, Vice President of Enrollment Management at EC and an honorary PTK member since 2022. He added that details about the scholarship will be announced in September.

To determine which colleges are named to the Transfer Honor Roll, Phi Theta Kappa uses 40 metrics related to the support and success of transfer students, including college cost and financial aid, campus life for transfer, admission practices, and bachelor’s degree completion. The data for the Transfer Honor Roll comes from the National Student Clearinghouse and data submitted through the four-year institution’s profile on PTK Connect, Phi Theta Kappa’s online tool designed to help students find their best-fit colleges and career pathways.

Colleges completing the PTK Connect profile are given a Transfer Friendliness Rating. The Honor Roll is chosen from among the top 25 percent of the highest-rated colleges.

According to a release from PTK, the Transfer Honor Roll recognizes the importance of creating strong transfer pathways that lead to excellence and success among community college transfer students, and this year’s winners had exceptional outcomes including:

• Average percent of transfer in undergraduate population - 56%

• Average bachelor's degree completion rate among transfers - 75%

• Average credit transferred toward a degree major and/or plan - 81%

• Average percent of transfer students receiving merit-based financial aid - 74%

"I'm proud of the transfer outcomes we're seeing at these Honor Roll colleges," said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. "These colleges are doing more than just opening doors-they're walking students through them. Their commitment to creating clear, supportive pathways demonstrates what's possible when student success is truly the priority."