Elmira College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Elmira, New York. It enrolls 708 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.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar4-1-4 Plan
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.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes49
Value45
Affordability51
Selectivity65
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77%, Elmira College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1090 – 1385
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 29
Cumulative composite
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 Elmira College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
10.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Elmira College 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 $22,386 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,386
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
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
$38,976
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,550
Room & Board (off-campus)
$4,900
Books & Supplies
$600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$850
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$850
Total Cost of Attendance
$52,449
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
$17,392
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,586
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,938
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,309
Over $110,000
$27,418
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.
$4,25010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,50090%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 $22,500
↓ $4,500
No Pell $19,500
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $20,480
↓ $6,520
Independent students $18,524
↓ $8,476
Female students $20,520
↓ $6,480
Male students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Elmira College graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Elmira College earn a median of $57,550 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$57,550
Earning > $25K
84%
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
$45,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$48,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,800, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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 ↑
18.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Elmira College is home to 708 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
708
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 68.2%483
Hispanic 8.8%62
International 6.4%45
Black 5.2%37
Other 4.0%28
Asian 3.3%23
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Elmira College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityElmira, New York
Housing
Strongly residential1,191 beds for 708 students
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Elmira College offers
a varied set of programs:
29 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 Elmira College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$94M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$43,835
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
51 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
5
10%
$55,661
Associate Professors
22
43%
$46,639
Assistant Professors
18
35%
$42,008
Instructors
4
8%
$26,147
Lecturers
2
4%
$35,250
Pros & Cons of Elmira College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Elmira College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Elmira College 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 Elmira College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Elmira College.
Is Elmira College hard to get into?
Elmira College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77%.
What is the acceptance rate at Elmira College?
Elmira College has an acceptance rate of 77%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Elmira College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Elmira College scored between 1090 and 1385 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Elmira College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Elmira College scored between 26 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Elmira College cost?
The average net price after aid at Elmira College is $22,386 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Elmira College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $57,550 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,386 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Elmira College known for?
Elmira College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Elmira College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Elmira College are $57,550, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Elmira College accredited?
Yes. Elmira College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Elmira College?
Elmira College enrolls 708 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Elmira College?
Elmira College graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Elmira College a public or private college?
Elmira College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Elmira College located?
Elmira College is located in Elmira, New York.
What programs does Elmira College offer?
Elmira College offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Elmira College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Elmira College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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