CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- A new transfer agreement signed by Corning Community College and Elmira College is set to help students that look to keep their education close to home through scholarships and incentives like need-based funding.

Students at Corning Community College and Elmira College looking to transfer between the two institutions to continue their education will be eligible for guaranteed acceptance, scholarship packages, and credit transfers.

Senior leadership from CCC and Elmira College met at the Arthur A. Houghton Jr. Library to formally sign a new transfer agreement. The new document looks to eliminate some of the financial windfalls associated with continuing higher education, through guaranteed acceptance and transfer scholarship benefits.

"The majority of our students are on some form of financial aid, so to have this articulation agreement with the scholarship attached, as I've said before is a really special articulation agreement because it gives students that financial relief to focus on their studies without having to worry so much about paying for college," remarked CCC President Dr. William P. Mullaney.

Prospective students looking to transfer will be eligible to earn renewable scholarships depending on academic standing. Students transferring with a GPA of 3.2 or lower can receive a $15,000 scholarship, while those with a GPA of 3.3 or higher are eligible for a $20,000 scholarship.

"We're very excited because it helps with developing the workforce and to give people opportunities to finish their degrees and have better earning power. We've had agreements, partnerships with the college before on certain programs but this partnership takes it to the next level because it involves any program, and a student that graduates with an associate degree can come in and study anything and any major we have at Elmira College," said Elmira College Provost Dr. Patricia Ireland.

Per the agreement, Elmira College will transfer up to 68 credits earned through CCC towards a bachelor's degree program. CCC Students must have earned an associate's level degree with at least 54 transferrable credits to be eligible.

Both institutions expressed optimism over the new agreement, citing the potential benefits to the student population and local workforce. The partnership aims to allow local students more options when seeking higher education as well as provide a clear path for students seeking bachelor-level degrees.