Admit rate has ranged 70%–78% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Ithaca College is a mid-sized private college in New York's Finger Lakes region, known for its strong programs in communications, health sciences, and the arts. With a 69% acceptance rate and a hands-on, mentorship-driven approach, it attracts students who want a balance of rigorous academics and vibrant campus life. The school's 85.7% graduation rate and $59,052 median alumni earnings five years out suggest it delivers on its promise of practical, career-ready education.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,242
In-state tuition
$53,540
Out-of-state tuition
$53,540
Location
Ithaca, NY
Acceptance Rate
69%
Most Popular Major
Business Administration (11%)
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
85.7%
Avg Financial Aid Package
$47,282
Early Decision Acceptance Rate
90.3%
Median Earnings 5 Years Post-Grad
$59,052
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$63,548
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.9×
Median debt at graduation
$24,000
Graduation rate
76%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
82%
Pell (lower-income) share
34%
First-generation share
14%
Endowment / student
$95,048
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$71,575
Accounting and Related Services$59,417
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,899
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$44,933
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$40,956
Biology, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
14
Per 1,000 students
3.30
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
78°F
Winter low
22°F
Annual rain
46.5"
Annual snow
52.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
341
Scholarly works
13,750
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.4%
Bottom → top quintile
36%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Ithaca College?
Ithaca College's acceptance rate is approximately 69% (Ithaca, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Ithaca College?
Admitted students at Ithaca College typically score 1230–1390 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Ithaca College cost?
At Ithaca College, the average net price (after aid) is about $33,926 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Ithaca College?
Ithaca College enrolls approximately 4,242 undergraduate students.
Where is Ithaca College located?
Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY.
Admissions
Ithaca College is moderately selective, admitting 69% of its 12,400 applicants in the most recent cycle—though early applicants enjoy a significantly higher 90.3% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1230–1370 on the SAT or equivalent ACT scores, though the school remains Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight.. With 8,557 accepted students and 4,268 enrolling, Ithaca attracts a mix of creative and pragmatic undergraduates who value its blend of liberal arts and professional programs.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$39,153
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$37,748
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies$37,208
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
Ithaca’s academic identity orbits around its strengths in media, health, and performance. The most popular majors—business administration (11%), radio/television (6%), and film production (5%)—reflect its roots as a communications powerhouse, while programs like exercise science draw praise for faculty accessibility. The School of Humanities and Sciences emphasizes undergraduate research opportunities rare at this level, with a curriculum that balances professional training and liberal arts. Students describe the workload as manageable but engaged, with professors who are "more than willing to meet and help."
Life at Ithaca balances crunchy Upstate New York outdoorsiness with a bustling campus culture. Over 200 student clubs range from cultural organizations to niche interest groups, while traditions like the annual "Panda Peak" sledding event foster community. The social scene draws mixed reviews: some Reddit users claim it’s "a party college," while official materials emphasize its "brave space" commitment to social justice. Either way, the college leans into its identity as a place where students "pursue all your passions"—whether that means hiking gorges or joining one of the nation’s top student-run TV stations.
Ithaca delivers strong ROI, with an 85.7% graduation rate for first-time, full-time students—well above the national average. Alumni earn a median $31,574 one year post-graduation, jumping to $59,052 after five years (surpassing the $45,519 national median). The school has earned recognition for employment outcomes, with earnings data suggesting its blend of professional training and liberal arts pays off. Notably, these results place Ithaca in the top 20% of U.S. colleges for graduate outcomes.
At $43,837 Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. (after aid), Ithaca isn’t cheap—but it’s generous with support. The average financial aid package totals $47,282, with 100% of students receiving grants or scholarships averaging $35,986 annually. Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. and merit scholarships (like the $20,750 average grant award) help offset the sticker price, though students should still expect to navigate loans and work-study options. The college’s net price calculator suggests most families pay significantly less than the published tuition.
Ithaca College carves a distinctive niche by merging the intimacy of a liberal arts college with the professional rigor of a conservatory and media school. Its communications programs—especially television/radio and film—rival those of larger universities, while its 10:1 student-faculty ratio ensures mentorship rare at peer institutions. The campus culture thrives on contradictions: serious about social justice but unafraid of fun, nestled in nature yet wired for 21st-century media careers. For students who want to graduate with both practical skills and a sense of purpose, Ithaca delivers—evidenced by alumni who out-earn national averages within five years.
Ithaca College logo · sourceIthaca College at a Glance | Ithaca College · sourceIthaca College | Private, Liberal Arts, Upstate NY | Britannica · sourceIthaca College Announces Return to Campus for Fall Semester - Ithaca College Athletics · source
