Ithaca College

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Quick Stats
953 Danby Road

Ithaca, NY 14850-7000

[map]
Phone: (607) 274-3124
2011-2012 Tuition
$35,278
tuition and fees
Students
6,442
enrolled
44%
male /
56%
female
Admissions
Feb. 1
application deadline
69.0%
accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#11 Regional Universities (North)

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Summary

Ithaca College is a private institution that was founded in 1892. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,442, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 669 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Ithaca College's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (North), 11. Its tuition and fees are $35,278 (2011-12).

Ithaca College is a private school located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, about 200 miles northwest of Manhattan. Undergraduates at Ithaca can choose from dozens of majors within the schools of business, communications, health sciences and human performance, humanities and sciences, and music. There are several graduate degrees available at Ithaca as well, including in business  and health. Outside the classroom, Ithaca provides many opportunities for students to help their community. Habidash is the school’s annual Habitat for Humanity 5K race; Food for Thought is a campus program that helps malnourished children; and Service Saturdays is an event through which students can volunteer in the Greater Ithaca area.

Students can also get involved by joining any of the more than 200 other student organizations or by participating in a recreational or club sport. The Ithaca Bombers varsity teams compete in various conferences within the NCAA Division III. Notable Ithaca alumni include Robert Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Co., and actor David Boreanaz, who has starred in the television shows Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Located in the heart of New York State's Finger Lakes region in one of the nation's top college towns, Ithaca College offers a first-rate education on a first-name basis. With an intimate student-faculty ratio of 12 to 1 and a focus on active learning and involvement, Ithaca is the perfect place to prepare for a lifetime of success. Ithaca's vibrant, residential campus overlooks Cayuga Lake and is home to 6,400 undergraduates and over 720 faculty. Five schools - Business, Communications, Health Sciences and Human Performance, Humanities and Sciences, and Music - offer over 100 undergraduate degree programs, 15+ teacher certification options, and a growing number of graduate options. An Ithaca education emphasizes real-world preparation in the classroom and beyond. Our students gain valuable experience in a variety of settings, including on-campus labs and clinics, through original faculty-student research projects, and via a nationwide internship network that accommodates students of all majors. Satellite programs in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and London, and study-abroad programs in 50+ countries provide even more options for personal and professional growth. The Ithaca learning community is further enriched by visits from distinguished guests and alumni who give lectures and performances, teach master classes, and share their perspectives and professional expertise. Students may also participate in dozens of cocurricular and extracurricular activities; the College has 26 highly competitive varsity teams, more than 150 student organizations, dozens of recreational sport clubs, and holds hundreds of concerts, recitals, and theater performances annually. Students manage the College's television station, two radio stations, two campus magazines, and a weekly newspaper - all of which consistently win top honors from regional and national professional organizations. From thought-provoking classes taught by expert faculty to exciting hands-on learning, cocurricular activities, and study abroad, Ithaca's students have lots of choices and plenty of opportunities to prepare for future success.

General Information

School type private, coed college
Year founded 1892
Religious affiliation N/A
Academic calendar semester
Setting suburban
2010 Endowment $174,490,395

Applying

When applying to Ithaca College, it's important to note the application deadline is February 1, and the early decision deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Ithaca College is $60. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 69.0 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity more selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate 69%
Application deadline February 1
SAT/ACT scores must be received by February 1

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Ithaca College is 12:1, and the school has 52.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Ithaca College include: Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Visual and Performing Arts; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Health Professions and Related Programs; and Social Sciences. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 85.8 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 12:1
4-year graduation rate 69% - High
Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs 21%
Visual and Performing Arts 14%
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services 13%
Health Professions and Related Programs 13%
Social Sciences 7%

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Student Life

Ithaca College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,442, with a gender distribution of 43.7 percent male students and 56.3 percent female students. 69.2 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 30.8 percent of students live off campus. Ithaca College is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Ithaca College.

Total enrollment 6,949
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity N/A
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority N/A
Collegiate athletic association NCAA III

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Campus Info & Services

Ithaca College offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Ithaca College also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Ithaca College, 39 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Ithaca College.

Students who have cars on campus 39% - Low
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer No

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Paying for School

At Ithaca College, 69.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $19,199.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees $35,278 (2011-12)
Room and board $12,854 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews

Ithaca College is... cold, snowy, and still awesome. The weather is extremely unpredicable. And the best kept secret is that Ithaca summers are beautiful... because most of the population actually leaves during this time. Ithaca is a melting pot of three worlds-- Cornell, IC, and the townies. The best thing about Ithaca College is that it is the opposite of home... so my learning extended far beyond the classroom. It is a crazy mix of people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, classes, etc. But sometimes there is definitely the aura of being at a private school full of rich kids. Although this really isn't the case and perhaps the result of stereotypes. Ithaca is extremely liberal, which is a great atmosphere for education. Also, some campuses are so big that they are their own city, while some are so small it's like high school. IC is the perfect size. IC has a great sense of pride for certain events, like Cortaca, unlike Cornell that seems to be bursting with athletic enthusiasm. However, it might be the difference between a division three and a division one school. IC's lack of unity could be due to the fact that our schools within the college are fairly segregated. I personally don't feel that as much because my major is integrated. But I can say I've never, ever been in the music or theatre schools. Many programs have the same reputation of "keeping to themselves." I think if there is one thing I will always remember it is my entire freshman year... when you're life gets turned upside down and you become whatever it spits out. It's not a bad thing... like what I said about IC being the opposite of home... it gives you a chance to see things you couldn't before, it's awesome, and it's essential. IC was also never threatening, if anything... it was in the end... enlightening.

Heather Senior

This town is absolutely beautiful when the weather's nice, but we get more days of rain/snow per year than Seattle, and the winter can seem like it lasts forever. This year we kinda skipped spring altogether... it snowed in mid-April then jumped to consistent sunny weather in the 70s out of nowhere. The view of the lake/sunset from campus is incredible, it never gets old. When the weather IS nice, there's always people out on the quads throwing a frisbee around or just laying out in the sun. Also, cliff jumping at the gorges is popular. Because it's awesome. The student body (roughly 6,000 undergrads) is a great size because there are always new people to meet, but you'll spot people you know on campus all the time, too. Parking on this campus kind of sucks. This is the first year I've had a car, and even though I live about a mile from campus I walk to class because driving really isn't much faster or convenient. I lived happily for 2 years without one, though, bumming a ride when I needed it from friends.

Alec Junior

The campus itself is really ugly. If you are looking for a pretty school to go to, this would not be the best one. It is really cold and windy for most of the time you are in school with the exception of september and the last two weeks of spring semester. The campus is pretty good in size. Most people think you go to Cornell when you say that you are going to Ithaca. That is kind of a let down. It is a GREAT college town. There are tons of things to do, and the entire town in based on the two colleges, so you are never bored! The only problem is that Ithaca College is on a hill, and there is nothing directly around the campus, you have to bring a car or take the bus, which only leaves every hour. The administration is ridiculous, you have to walk back and forth on campus to get anything done, and they don't ever know who you really need to talk to. I really liked that the campus is on a hill, it has great view and gives you a good workout!

Almekinder Junior

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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