Admit rate has ranged 80%–96% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (77%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Elmira College is a small, private liberal arts college in New York's Southern Tier that operates less like a selective fortress and more like a pragmatic, hands-on training ground. It blends a liberal arts core with a distinctly career-oriented focus, particularly in health sciences and business, within a tight-knit residential community where over 80% of students live on campus. The vibe is supportive and active, with a sprawling list of clubs and a financial aid approach that aims to be accessible to nearly every student.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
708
In-state tuition
$38,976
Out-of-state tuition
$38,976
Housing
81% live on campus
Graduation Rate
65%
Early Action Deadline
November 15
Median Earnings (10yr)
$57,550
Number of Student Clubs
40+
Financial Aid Recipients
Nearly 100% of first-year students
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$57,550
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
65%
First-year retention
70%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
69%
Pell (lower-income) share
38%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
27%
Financial health
1.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$60,485
Accounting and Related Services$36,852
Criminal Justice and Corrections$33,993
Business Administration, Management and Operations$31,133
Psychology, General$30,771
Human Services, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
22°F
Annual rain
41.8"
Annual snow
39.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
41
Scholarly works
710
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.4%
Bottom → top quintile
27%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Elmira College?
Elmira College's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Elmira, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Elmira College?
Admitted students at Elmira College typically score 1090–1385 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Elmira College cost?
At Elmira College, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,386 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Elmira College?
Elmira College enrolls approximately 708 undergraduate students.
Where is Elmira College located?
Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY.
Admissions
Elmira College's admissions process is characterized by accessibility and flexibility. The school is , accepting the Common Application, and maintains a rolling admissions policy with no regular decision deadline. For the entering class of 2027, the college welcomed about 1,013 out of 1,246 applicants. The overall is 77%, placing it in the "somewhat selective" category. For students who submit scores, the middle 50% SAT range for enrolled students is 1090–1385 (with a composite range of 1070–1210). The college offers an Early Action option with a November 15 deadline for students seeking an early decision by December 1. A recent enrollment initiative was notably successful, resulting in a freshman class 56% larger than the previous year and a low 9% "melt rate" (students who deposit but don't enroll).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$30,409
Biology, General$28,598
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Elmira's academic model explicitly connects a liberal arts foundation with professional preparation for fields like business, law, medicine, and the military. The college offers over 35 majors and minor areas of concentration, encouraging a cross-disciplinary education. Popular majors, based on recent graduate data, include Finance, Elementary Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Reading Teacher Education. Other significant programs include Human Services, Business, Nursing, Psychology, and Criminal Justice. The college has developed a particular focus on Health Sciences, offering a range of academic tracks and dual degrees within that field. This practical, career-forward approach defines the academic culture, aiming to equip students with both broad knowledge and specific, marketable skills.
Life at Elmira is intensely residential and community-focused, with 81% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. The campus serves as the central hub for activity, where students connect through a wide array of organized events and informal gatherings. The Office of Campus Life promotes a full calendar of activities year-round, including outdoor festivals, game nights, poetry slams, and DIY projects. Students are involved in more than 40 student clubs and organizations, which they can join at any point in the academic year. Social life often revolves around dormitories and the campus lawn during warmer months. Campus amenities include exercise facilities and a swimming pool, though the gym can get crowded. The overall atmosphere is one of a close-knit, active community where finding your niche is encouraged.
Elmira College's six-year graduation rate is reported at 64%. For context, U.S. News & World Report notes a 62% six-year graduation rate for the college. Post-graduation earnings data varies across sources. One report indicates median earnings of $64,453, while others cite figures like $51,044 one year after graduation and $57,961 five years after graduation. Another source states average earnings for graduates in their early career are about $37,000. The college's outcomes are a mixed picture, with one analysis suggesting early-career earnings are about $9,000 worse than might be expected given the mix of majors students pursue.
Elmira College employs a robust financial aid strategy to make attendance feasible. Nearly 100% of full-time, first-year undergraduate students receive assistance through scholarships and grants. The college states that 100% of its students receive financial aid. is granted to about 95% of entering freshmen. Scholarship amounts can be valued up to $25,000, with five competitive, full-tuition scholarships available. Students accepted for admission are automatically considered for merit scholarships. The average aid package is reported as $32,015. The —the average cost after aid and scholarships—is reported differently across sources: $27,184, $24,551, and $23,682. The college provides a Net Price Calculator for families to estimate their actual cost.
Elmira College stands out for its unambiguous mission: to be a direct bridge from a liberal arts education to a professional career. It doesn't hide its vocational aims behind ivy-covered abstractions. This is clear in its popular majors—Finance, Nursing, Education—and its dedicated Health Sciences programs. The college doubles down on accessibility, not just in its 77% , but in its financial aid philosophy, aiming to support nearly every student who enrolls. The environment is deliberately small-scale and residential (over 80% live on campus), fostering a community where involvement in dozens of clubs and campus events is the norm. It’s a college for students who want a hands-on, supportive, and clear-path experience, where the focus is equally on building a well-rounded perspective and landing a first job.
