Elms College Offers Transfer Support for Hampshire Students

Chicopee college provides scholarships, housing grants, and streamlined admissions for Hampshire students after closure announcement.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:50pm

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An abstract, impressionistic scene of students walking across a blurred college campus, with warm pools of light and color creating a dreamlike, atmospheric mood.Elms College's welcoming embrace of displaced Hampshire students reflects the close-knit community of Western Massachusetts higher education.Chicopee Today

After Hampshire College announced it will be closing in fall 2026, Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts has stepped up to offer transfer support and financial assistance to help Hampshire students continue their education. Elms is providing a $5,000 grant, a $4,000 residential grant, and a $1,000 scholarship for Hampshire students who visit the campus, along with a simplified application process and guaranteed housing.

Why it matters

The closure of Hampshire College, a small liberal arts school, leaves many students in limbo about their academic futures. Elms College's proactive efforts to support these displaced students demonstrates the tight-knit nature of the Western Massachusetts higher education community and a commitment to ensuring students can seamlessly transfer and complete their degrees.

The details

Elms College, a private Catholic university in Chicopee, is offering a range of financial aid and admissions support to make the transition easier for Hampshire College students. This includes a $5,000 grant, a $4,000 residential grant, and a $1,000 scholarship just for scheduling a campus visit. Elms is also streamlining the application process, guaranteeing housing, and providing an accelerated financial aid review for all incoming Hampshire transfers.

  • On April 17, 2026, Hampshire College announced it would be closing in the fall of 2026.
  • Elms College immediately announced its transfer support program for displaced Hampshire students.

The players

Elms College

A private Catholic university located in Chicopee, Massachusetts that is offering transfer support and financial assistance to students from the closing Hampshire College.

Hampshire College

A small liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts that announced it will be closing in fall 2026, leaving many students searching for new academic homes.

Molly Miner

The vice president of enrollment management and marketing at Elms College, who outlined the college's transfer support program for Hampshire students.

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What they’re saying

“These students will be eligible for all of the scholarships that any transfer student would be eligible for but, in addition, we're also extending them a $5,000 Hampshire College grant to really assist them during this difficult time and this time of transition.”

— Molly Miner, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, Elms College

“The Western Mass. higher ed community is small and I think, while Hampshire and Elms are different institutions, we're so similar in that we're small and provide personalized academic environment to our students.”

— Molly Miner, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, Elms College

What’s next

Elms College is encouraging interested Hampshire students to reach out to their admissions office to begin the transfer process and take advantage of the available financial aid and support.

The takeaway

Elms College's proactive efforts to support displaced Hampshire College students during a difficult time for their institution demonstrates the collaborative spirit of the Western Massachusetts higher education community. By providing substantial financial aid and a streamlined transfer process, Elms is ensuring Hampshire students have an opportunity to seamlessly continue their studies.