Harvard vs. Ithaca College

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Ithaca College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Ithaca College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Ithaca College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Ithaca College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Ithaca College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Ithaca College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Ithaca College $266

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Ithaca College Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Ithaca College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Ithaca College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Ithaca College 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Ithaca College is in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Ithaca College 10:1.

Harvard vs. Ithaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Ithaca College ($17,525 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 23.6% lower than at Harvard University ($16,192 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $8,136 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.2% higher at Harvard than at Ithaca College (about $8,136 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 103.3% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($68,015 vs. $33,450).

Harvard vs. Ithaca College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 240 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 28 at Ithaca College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Ithaca College 1230/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Ithaca College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Ithaca College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.3% at Ithaca College.

Harvard vs. Ithaca College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $80,600 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,250 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($6,500 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $199 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($67 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 70%)

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.