College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It enrolls 949 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes60
Value59
Affordability71
Selectivity32
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 85.3%, College of Our Lady of the Elms is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
85.3%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether College of Our Lady of the Elms is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending College of Our Lady of the Elms isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,545 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,545
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
71%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$43,325
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,605
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,431
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,461
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,361
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,027
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,099
$30,001 – $48,000
$22,645
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,539
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,243
Over $110,000
$25,491
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$28,25075%percentile
$32,41890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $17,125
↓ $7,875
Dependent students $20,375
↓ $4,625
Independent students $20,834
↓ $4,166
Female students $22,250
↓ $2,750
Male students $16,750
↓ $8,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,000, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
72% of full-time students who enrolled at College of Our Lady of the Elms graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of Our Lady of the Elms earn a median of $51,540 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,540
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
College of Our Lady of the Elms is home to 949 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
949
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 45.2%429
Hispanic 28.4%269
Black 12.9%122
Other 4.3%41
Asian 2.3%22
International 1.7%16
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at College of Our Lady of the Elms. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbChicopee, Massachusetts
Housing
Mostly residential402 beds on campus
Adult Learners
26%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
College of Our Lady of the Elms offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of Our Lady of the Elms is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$61M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,342
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
56 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
9
16%
$77,517
Associate Professors
16
29%
$70,457
Assistant Professors
28
50%
$62,589
Instructors
1
2%
$30,000
Lecturers
2
4%
$53,834
Pros & Cons of College of Our Lady of the Elms
A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of Our Lady of the Elms tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, College of Our Lady of the Elms is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about College of Our Lady of the Elms
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of Our Lady of the Elms.
Is College of Our Lady of the Elms hard to get into?
College of Our Lady of the Elms has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 85.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at College of Our Lady of the Elms?
College of Our Lady of the Elms has an acceptance rate of 85.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does College of Our Lady of the Elms cost?
The average net price after aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms is $17,545 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is College of Our Lady of the Elms worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,540 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,545 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is College of Our Lady of the Elms known for?
College of Our Lady of the Elms is best known for its programs in Nursing, Social Work, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering College of Our Lady of the Elms are $51,540, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is College of Our Lady of the Elms accredited?
Yes. College of Our Lady of the Elms is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend College of Our Lady of the Elms?
College of Our Lady of the Elms enrolls 949 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at College of Our Lady of the Elms?
College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates 72% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is College of Our Lady of the Elms a public or private college?
College of Our Lady of the Elms is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is College of Our Lady of the Elms located?
College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
What programs does College of Our Lady of the Elms offer?
College of Our Lady of the Elms offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Social Work, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of Our Lady of the Elms?
The student-to-faculty ratio at College of Our Lady of the Elms is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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