Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship today announced a new partnership with St. Bonaventure University, offering students who graduate from the Institute’s two-year program the option to transfer their credits and pursue a bachelor’s degree at St. Bonaventure.

As part of the partnership, Golisano Institute graduates will be eligible to receive a minimum $22,000 scholarship each year toward tuition at SBU.

“As an institution that has many St. Bonaventure alumni on staff, we see the Franciscan values come alive as we challenge and support our students,” said Dr. Ian Mortimer, president of Golisano Institute and a 1993 and 1995 graduate of SBU. “For our graduates seeking a purely residential experience after graduating from the Institute, Bonaventure should be a great choice.”

St. Bonaventure is the seventh higher education partner of Golisano Institute, which opened its doors in Rochester in 2023 and announced plans last month to open a second location in downtown Buffalo.

Admitted students can have their credit hours applied toward earning any of the six bachelor’s degrees offered through St. Bonaventure’s School of Business, including Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Sports Management, and Marketing.

“This collegiate partnership benefits both institutions,” said Mark Murphy, founder and CEO of Greenlight Networks, who serves on the Board of Trustees at St. Bonaventure. “As an entrepreneur and (1991) St. Bonaventure alumnus, I look forward to seeing what the combined power of a Golisano Institute and St. Bonaventure education can do for the future of business and entrepreneurship across Western New York.”

Golisano Institute is a leader in alternative post-secondary business education. Delivering a high-quality and accelerated business experience for students of all ages, Golisano Institute leverages an expansive roster of higher education partners, entrepreneur advisers, and business connections to help professionals reach their full potential.

Thanks to the generosity of founder Tom Golisano, qualified students can access the Institute’s benefits at a significantly lower cost than the average higher education institution.

“This partnership reflects the heart of our Franciscan mission. Our students are very similar and we know that St. Bonaventure will be a great fit for those students at the Golisano Institute who want to continue their education in a holistic, student-centered environment,” said Dr. Jeff Gingerich, president of St. Bonaventure. “We deeply admire Tom’s vision to make business education more affordable and inclusive, and we’re proud to help these students continue their journey in a community grounded in values and purpose.”

In addition to St. Bonaventure, Golisano Institute also partners with St. John Fisher University, Syracuse University College of Professional Studies, Roberts Wesleyan University, Alfred State College, Daemen University, and Niagara University to offer students a path toward earning a bachelor’s degree.

For more information on the two institutions, visit Golisanoinstitute.org or www.sbu.edu.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).