Strategic Moves Power Elmira’s Rise in Enrollment and Giving

More students are walking around the Elmira College campus this year.

That’s because the College recently welcomed 287 new students, the second largest group of new first-year and transfer students in the past 10 years. Combined with last year’s - the largest in a decade with 306 new students - the two classes combined are larger than the previous three fall classes of new full-time undergraduate students.

“It is exhilarating to welcome so many new students from around the country and the world who bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to the Campus,” said Charles Lindsay, Elmira College President.

Like many other small, private colleges, particularly in the northeast, EC’s enrollment had been on the decline in 2020-2023.

As the College developed its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, leadership took into account factors such as declining populations and the demand for professional programs. The goal? Right-size and pivot the College towards strategies that would attract prospective students. And it’s paying off.

Since 2023, the College has added 16 new academic programs that pair the liberal arts with professional pursuits. For example, EC added majors in Forensic Science, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Social Work, and minors in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and Public Health.

EC’s close relationship with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine led to an accelerated six-year Bachelor of Science (BS) to Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, reducing the time students spend in college by two years, saving them money and helping them enter the workforce more quickly. A critical feature as New York, and the country as a whole, face a significant shortage of physicians, particularly in primary care areas.

And some longstanding programs, like Business Administration, have developed professional concentrations such as Fashion Business Generalist, Information Technology, and Sports Management.

While making academic program shifts, the College also adopted non-academic strategies to attract more students. Perhaps the largest of these additions is a new turf field on the main campus. The turf field, which enhances the athletics program, also serves as a campus community hub, providing a space for student-focused events and activities throughout the year.

In addition, four new co-curricular and athletics programs enhance student engagement, including a Pep Band, Club Ice Hockey, an expanded Competitive Dance program, and the addition of Women's Flag Football, which became a conference-sponsored championship sport for the 2025-26 season. These have already made a positive difference in the student experience.

These strategies, paired with strategic hires in recruitment and fundraising leadership, have led to significant community investment. Between July 1, 2024, and June 31, 2025, EC raised more than $5.9 million in charitable contributions and increased grants by 61% over the previous year.

Students networked with alumni members during the Beyond the Books: Soaring to Professional Success etiquette networking event and dinner, part of the Under Wing Alumni Mentoring program.

“We are grateful to our alumni and donor community. Their support surpasses our expectations, and they are generous with all forms of their philanthropy,” said Paula Lee Hobson, Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Engagement. “In addition to financial support, alumni are giving their time and expertise to create a career network for students as part of our Under Wing Alumni Mentoring program. They coach and mentor as well as connect our students to internships and first-time jobs.”

The increase in giving and enrollment is creating momentum. EC now offers more scholarships that remove barriers so that even more students can attend. All full-time EC students receive scholarship aid, and in the 2024-2025 academic year, EC awarded more than $16 million to students, up from the more than $12 million awarded the previous year.

This has enabled EC to further expand its aid initiatives to new student populations. When it first launched, EC’s Soaring Eagles Take Flight initiative was open only to incoming first-year students from New York State. In the program, eligible students receive a combination of EC scholarships, state, and federal grants to cover tuition and mandatory fees. Beginning in January 2026, NYS transfer students will also become eligible for Take Flight.

Similarly, EC has expanded its Good Neighbor program. When it launched last year, EC offered Pennsylvania students an Elmira College need-based grant equivalent to their PA state award. Beginning with students entering Fall 2026, EC will expand the Good Neighbor program to include students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The maximum Good Neighbor Award for students in these five states is $5,750.

During the annual EC Clubs and Orgs Fair, large numbers of first-year students chatted with club leaders to learn about each club and to sign up for those they were most interested in.

“Students are excited about the new academic programs, affordability options, and the tight-knit community that will support them in their academic careers,” said Dennis Kelly, Vice President of Enrollment Management at EC. “These changes have not only made EC more attractive in general, but we’re welcoming some of the highest caliber students. The average GPA for the class that just arrived on campus is 3.65.”

“These successes affirm that our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan is steering us in the right direction,” shared Lindsay. “The plan provides a clear roadmap, and it’s inspiring to see how the campus community has rallied around and contributed to the strategy. Everyone is working together, and it shows.”