Ithaca College vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between Ithaca College and Carnegie Mellon University? 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.

Ithaca College
Carnegie Mellon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • Carnegie Mellon
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • Carnegie Mellon $271
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Carnegie Mellon University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (15,888 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ithaca College 10:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

Ithaca College vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Ithaca College than Carnegie Mellon ($35,253 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 10.9% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($16,192 vs. $18,166).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $12,706 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at Ithaca College (about $12,706 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Carnegie Mellon University (100% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 43.8% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($48,107 vs. $33,450).

Ithaca College vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon and Ithaca College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 230 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon 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: Ithaca College 1230/1390; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

Ithaca College vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $46,600 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($266 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ithaca College students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.