Ithaca College
#5 Best Communications Colleges in New York- Graduation Rate
- 75% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,548 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $33,926 F
- 98% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 69% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.5 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Communications Colleges in New York.
Every $1 spent returns $14.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,835,953.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.
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A 75% graduation rate — 32% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 59%
- Patents
- 36
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 16
- Downstream influence
Why Ithaca College Matters
Ithaca College is a private university in Ithaca, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,242
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Communications, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Ithaca College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 69% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1230–1390. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $33,926 a year after grants and scholarships — 98% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,548 ten years after enrolling — 56% above the typical college, against $24,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 54% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.80 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Ithaca College, with an enrollment of about 4,200 students, is a great fit for those drawn to the arts, communications, health professions, business, and psychology. Students here engage deeply in these programs, which are designed to nurture creativity and practical skills. The relatively high acceptance rate of 69% indicates a welcoming environment for applicants, making it accessible for a diverse range of students.
After graduation, the average earnings of alumni ten years post-degree sit at $63,548. This suggests that many students find rewarding careers that allow them to thrive financially. The cost of attendance tends to be manageable, especially when considering the potential return on investment. While the debt load for graduates averages around $24,000, this is a reasonable figure when balanced against the earnings potential in various fields.
In terms of affordability, the net price after aid is approximately $33,926, which adds context to the overall financial commitment. Students who tend to excel here are those passionate about their fields and ready to engage in a vibrant campus culture. With a graduation rate of 75%, it's clear that many find their footing and succeed in completing their degrees, preparing them for the next steps in their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Ithaca College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ithaca College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Ithaca, New York, Ithaca College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,312. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- SAT Average
- 1312
- SAT Range
- 1230–1390
- ACT Range
- 27–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 78%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,844
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.47
- First-Gen Students
- 14%
- Applicants
- 12,446
- Admitted
- 9,359
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Ithaca College is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 81.0%
- vs 69.0% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 116 Early Decision applicants, 94 were admitted — a 81.0% admit rate, roughly 1.2× the 69.0% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 9% of the entering class (94 of 1,050 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ithaca College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ithaca College is $53,540, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $33,926. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,901 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $53,540
- Out-of-State
- $53,540
- Avg Net Price
- $33,926
- Median Debt
- $24,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 65%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $21,901
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,335
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,832
- Family Income $110K+
- $38,785
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Ithaca College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ithaca College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ithaca College earn a median of $63,548, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,305
- 8 Years
- $58,247
- 10 Years
- $63,548
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.38x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,131)
- 73%
- 100% (1,131)
- 73%
- 100% (1,131)
- 73%
- 100% (1,131)
- 73%
How Ithaca Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Ithaca College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ithaca College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $33,926/year ($135,704 total). Graduates earn $63,548 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,971,657 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,835,953 (14.5× your investment). The median debt is $24,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 75% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $135,704
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,971,657
- Net Return
- $1,835,953
- ROI Multiple
- 14.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $33,926
- Median Debt
- $24,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 75%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Ithaca College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ithaca College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.38%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 36.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $117,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.38%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 36.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $160,049
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Ithaca College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 36 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.36%
- Top 59% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 36
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 16
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,604,452
- Investment Income
- $-59,643,736
Top Programs
The fields Ithaca College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 27% $34,455 early-career
- Communications 22% $48,664 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $29,935 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10% $70,599 early-career
- Psychology 4% $34,625 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $46,521 early-career
- English & Literature 4% $29,149 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $85,045 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ithaca College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ithaca College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Ithaca, New York, Ithaca College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,312. The graduation rate is roughly 75%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ithaca College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ithaca College is $53,540, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $33,926. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $21,901 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,000 in federal student loans.
Is Ithaca College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ithaca College earn a median of $63,548, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Ithaca College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ithaca College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.38%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 36.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $117,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Ithaca College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ithaca College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Ithaca College offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Ithaca College offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 81%, about 1.2 times the overall 69% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 9% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Ithaca College is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Ithaca College?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at Ithaca College — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ithaca College.
- Siena UniversityLoudonville, NY · Close peer75% grad $76,079 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego, CA · Close peer76% grad $63,998 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA · Close peer76% grad $58,336 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- High Point UniversityHigh Point, NC · Close peer72% grad $61,389 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL · Close peer78% grad $58,469 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of New HavenWest Haven, CT · Close peer61% grad $60,126 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ithaca College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ithaca College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note