Ithaca College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Ithaca, New York. It enrolls 4,242 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes80
Value15
Affordability13
Selectivity72
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 69%, Ithaca College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
69%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1230 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
27 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Ithaca College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
2.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Ithaca College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $33,926 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$33,926
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
65%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$53,540
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,192
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,192
Books & Supplies
$850
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,365
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,365
Total Cost of Attendance
$68,699
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,901
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,335
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,832
$75,001 – $110,000
$31,846
Over $110,000
$38,785
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$10,35525%percentile
$24,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,20090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,250
↓ $2,750
No Pell $19,500
↓ $4,500
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $4,500
Independent students $24,000
—
Female students $19,928
↓ $4,072
Male students $19,021
↓ $4,979
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($24,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
75% of full-time students who enrolled at Ithaca College graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
75%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
84%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Ithaca College earn a median of $63,548 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,548
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$58,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$55,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,400, about 9% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Ithaca College is home to 4,242 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
4,242
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
14%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.3%3,024
Hispanic 11.4%485
Other 4.8%204
Black 4.5%190
International 3.0%129
Asian 2.9%122
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Ithaca College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbIthaca, New York
Housing
Strongly residential4,174 beds for 4,242 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Ithaca College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
61 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ithaca College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$682M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$86,223
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
386 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
102
26%
$105,563
Associate Professors
152
39%
$88,506
Assistant Professors
113
29%
$68,750
Instructors
18
5%
$69,499
No Rank
1
0%
$42,000
Pros & Cons of Ithaca College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ithaca College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Ithaca College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ithaca College.
Is Ithaca College hard to get into?
Admissions at Ithaca College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 69%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Ithaca College?
Ithaca College has an acceptance rate of 69%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Ithaca College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ithaca College scored between 1230 and 1390 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Ithaca College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Ithaca College scored between 27 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Ithaca College cost?
The average net price after aid at Ithaca College is $33,926 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Ithaca College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,548 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $33,926 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ithaca College known for?
Ithaca College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Radio, Television & Digital Media, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Ithaca College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ithaca College are $63,548, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ithaca College accredited?
Yes. Ithaca College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Ithaca College?
Ithaca College enrolls 4,242 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ithaca College?
Ithaca College graduates 75% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ithaca College a public or private college?
Ithaca College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Ithaca College located?
Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, New York.
What programs does Ithaca College offer?
Ithaca College offers 61 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Radio, Television & Digital Media, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ithaca College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ithaca College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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