College of Our Lady of the Elms

Yes, Elms has many online degree and certificate programs prospective students can pursue. With 13 online programs, there’s a variety of specialties students can choose from. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 15% of undergraduate and 21% of graduate students participate in distance education at Elms.

Employers respect students who receive an online degree from Elms because the school is accredited. To discover a school’s legitimacy, prospective students should always check its accreditation. This stamp of approval is given to institutions that have met the national expectations of quality when it comes to delivering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Elms is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a voluntary, non-governmental membership association serving as an institutional accreditor. 

At OnlineU, we only include accredited online colleges and universities on our site. 

Prospective applicants are often drawn to Elms for these three reasons: (1) It's a liberal arts college. (2) The school is open to students from different backgrounds. (3) Elms' First-Year Encounter Program is for entering freshmen. 

Liberal Arts Education 

Elms is a Roman Catholic, coeducational liberal arts college that strives to educate students from all backgrounds and religions. Elms aims to create a community that helps students excel in person as well as virtually. In addition, a liberal arts education gives students transferable skills, like communication, problem-solving, and analysis.

Acceptance of All Religious Backgrounds

Elms is a private, coeducational liberal arts college affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. However, as mentioned, the school does not turn away students with differing religious beliefs. Elms accepts students from all cultural and religious backgrounds. 

First-Year Encounter Program

Elms’ First-Year Encounter Program is a week-long program for incoming first-year students. The event’s theme is “Encounter,” and it allows students to better understand the school’s campus life, recreational activities, mission, and values. Students will volunteer daily and engage in social events and evening reflection. This program is an excellent opportunity for online students to visit Elms’s campus and connect with classmates before classes begin.

At Elms, these three undergraduate fields offer the highest earning median salaries for graduates based on data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard: Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing offer graduates an annual median salary of ~$78,800. Second up is a bachelor's degree in social work with a salary of ~$41,300. Finally, a general psychology degree provides earnings of ~$31,700. 

Elms has three online undergraduate degree options that fit within these fields of study: (1) RN to BSN, (2) healthcare management, and (3) psychology. 

OnlineU has also developed a Salary Score that ranks colleges by how much their alums earn compared to graduates with the same degree across the country. With scores out of 100, Elms’ salary scores are 64 for bachelor’s degrees, 55 for master's degrees, and 30 for doctorates. 

According to College Scorecard data, the acceptance rate at Elms is 70%. This suggests that getting admitted into this online school may not be as challenging as other private schools. For some context, highly competitive private schools, like Harvard and Yale, have acceptance rates below 10%. 

While Elms considers ACT and SAT scores during admissions, applicants do not have to submit them. Students admitted into Elms typically had the following college entrance exam scores: SAT Critical Reading scores between 500 and 590, SAT Math scores between 500 and 580, and ACT Composite scores between 21 and 24.

To get accepted into one of Elms’ online degree programs, prospective students must partake in their online admission process. Elms has a rolling admissions policy, so there isn’t a hard deadline to apply. Here’s the school's admission checklist for first-year students:

• Submit the Common Application or Elms Application.
• Submit official high school transcripts or GED/HiSet scores.
• Submit optional materials, like a personal statement, letters of recommendation, or ACT/SAT scores.
• Nursing applicants must submit a personal statement and two letters of recommendation.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for financial aid. 

Applicants needing assistance with the online application process can contact one of Elms’ admission counselors.