Cornell vs. Ithaca College

Deciding between Cornell University and Ithaca College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Cornell University
Ithaca College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • Ithaca College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • Ithaca College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Ithaca College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • Ithaca College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • Ithaca College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • Ithaca College $266

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • Ithaca College Low
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • Ithaca College No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • Ithaca College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • Ithaca College 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cornell Yes
  • Ithaca College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cornell No
  • Ithaca College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cornell Yes
  • Ithaca College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cornell No
  • Ithaca College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cornell No
  • Ithaca College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Ithaca College is in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting).
  • Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cornell University 9:1; Ithaca College 10:1.

Cornell vs. Ithaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell or Ithaca College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Cornell University than Ithaca College ($26,361 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 16.7% lower than at Cornell University ($16,192 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 29.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $15,774 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.5% higher at Cornell than at Ithaca College (about $15,774 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Cornell University (100% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 84.7% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($61,779 vs. $33,450).

Cornell vs. Ithaca College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell or Ithaca College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Ithaca College and Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 230 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at Ithaca College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Ithaca College 1230/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Ithaca College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; Ithaca College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 12.3% at Ithaca College.

Cornell vs. Ithaca College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell and Ithaca College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $42,300 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $13,750 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($12,000 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $142 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($124 vs. $266).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ithaca College students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 84%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.