Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship partners with Nazareth University
Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and Nazareth University today announced a new partnership in which students who graduate from the Institute’s certificate programs have the option to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree at Nazareth. With this announcement, Nazareth becomes Golisano Institute’s eighth higher education partner and the first to offer eligibility for a graduate program.
Students applying to graduate programs at Nazareth University must hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed either the two-year Professional Certificate in Business & Entrepreneurship or the one-year Advanced Certificate in AI & Business at Golisano Institute. Eligible students will receive a 20% tuition discount for graduate programs in the School of Business and Leadership, or a $15‑per‑credit‑hour discount for graduate programs in the School of Education, and must meet all standard Nazareth graduate admission requirements for their chosen program.
Golisano Institute students seeking a bachelor’s degree who complete either the Professional Certificate in Business & Entrepreneurship or the Advanced Certificate in AI & Business are eligible for guaranteed admission to nearly all undergraduate programs at Nazareth, provided they apply within four years of completion and meet the university’s general admission criteria or select program requirements.
Admitted students may begin their studies at Nazareth as early as the Fall 2026 semester, and the $55 application fee will be waived for all applicants from Golisano Institute.
“Our mission has always been to deliver a high-quality business education to our students, and this partnership with Nazareth University creates a meaningful pathway for those who wish to build on that foundation,” said Ian Mortimer, president of Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship. “I am particularly excited about the value we can add to one another in the areas of the arts, healthcare, and careers in international domains. I would also like to thank Nazareth for its partnership with the American Council of Education. I believe both our organizations are stronger because of it.”
“Nazareth is committed to preparing students who will lead innovation for our time, and this partnership with Golisano Institute is an excellent fit in achieving that reality,” said Beth Paul, president of Nazareth University. “Students coming to Nazareth from Golisano Institute already have such a solid framework grounded in business, and they will have many options to continue their education at Nazareth — whether in a graduate business or education program, or in one of Nazareth’s 60 top-tier undergraduate majors. This exciting combination of Golisano Institute and Nazareth University is a fantastic way for students to prepare for and launch their life’s work.”
In addition to Nazareth University, other higher education partners of Golisano Institute include St. Bonaventure University, St. John Fisher University, Syracuse University College of Professional Studies, Roberts Wesleyan University, Alfred State College, Daemen University, and Niagara University.
Golisano Institute is a leader in alternative post-secondary business education. The Institute opened its flagship location in Rochester in 2023 to equip students of all ages with practical business skills and real-world experience, at a tuition cost of $8,900 per year. Its second location will open this fall in Buffalo.
Nazareth University has more than 100 years of bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Within six months of graduation, 99% of Nazareth alumni are employed or in graduate school, with more than four of five aligned with career goals. With personalized mentoring and hands-on learning, at Nazareth, students will develop skills and a broad knowledge to make their mark on the world.
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
