College of Our Lady of the Elms

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield
• Private Catholic college welcoming students of all backgrounds and religions
• Current NECHE member with accreditation continued in November 2023
• Awards bachelor’s, master’s, and limited professional-doctoral degrees

Student Life & Environment

Elms supports both residential and commuter participation. Residence Life states that living on campus is optional; there is no general residency requirement. Students who choose campus housing have convenient access to the Alumnae Library, McGuire Athletic Center, and evening or weekend activities. The 2026–2027 cost page confirms an active resident housing and meal-plan option, while commuters have access to resources such as lockers, dining and meal plans, computer labs, advisers, and a commuter council. Outside class, students can engage through organizations, campus events, leadership programs, retreats, volunteer work, mission service, Campus Ministry, and athletics. The Blazers compete in NCAA Division III, with the official athletics page listing sports that include basketball, cross-country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and volleyball, plus additional men’s and women’s teams. Applicants interested in varsity participation should consult the athletics site for current rosters and recruitment procedures. The institution’s Catholic heritage shapes its emphasis on faith, service, justice, and community, but participation occurs in a college that welcomes students of different backgrounds and religions. The small-campus environment may suit students who value familiar faces and centralized support. Those seeking a large residential population or extensive big-campus entertainment should visit and compare the scale and weekend atmosphere with their preferences.

Location & Surroundings

Elms College is located at 291 Springfield Street in Chicopee, Massachusetts. NECHE identifies Chicopee as the main institutional location and lists additional instructional sites at partner community colleges in Enfield, Greenfield, Pittsfield, and Springfield. Applicants should not assume that every major or student service is offered at every site; the Chicopee campus remains the central location described in the traditional undergraduate experience. Chicopee is part of western Massachusetts’ Springfield metropolitan area. This places students near the region’s schools, hospitals, community agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, which is relevant to Elms programs emphasizing clinical work, teacher preparation, service learning, and internships. The college describes faculty and career staff as helping students connect with professional opportunities locally as well as farther afield. The campus is compact, and key services such as the library, Center for Student Success, athletics facilities, residence halls, and academic buildings are concentrated there. Prospective residents and commuters should assess transportation independently. The college publishes parking charges for 2026–2027, but the reviewed sources do not establish a universal public-transit arrangement or guarantee transportation to clinical, internship, or off-campus instructional locations.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Elms publishes full-time traditional undergraduate tuition of $43,816 for both residents and commuters. Annual room and board is $16,396. Listed charges also include comprehensive and technology fees, with health insurance, parking, and certain other charges potentially waivable or dependent on circumstances. First-year students have one-time orientation and seminar fees, and nursing or clinical courses can carry additional charges. These figures replace the older tuition and room-and-board amounts stored in the supplied database record for profile-planning purposes, but the database values have not been silently reused or altered in prose. Students should calculate net cost rather than treating the published price as an expected bill. Elms directs applicants to complete the FAFSA after admission so the college can prepare an individualized aid offer. Its undergraduate aid page reports that most undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, but the page contains inconsistent percentages in different passages; no single percentage is therefore presented here. Eligibility and award amounts depend on the student and applicable aid rules. Career Services assists students and alumni with career planning, résumés, cover letters, interviews, networking, graduate-school exploration, and job and internship searches. Students receive access to Handshake, and advisers can help construct a four-year career plan. Internships are supported jointly by Career Services and faculty advisers. The reviewed career page reports that 91% of the undergraduate class of 2024 was employed or continuing education, but prospective students should treat this as a dated institution-reported outcome rather than a guaranteed result or salary measure.