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Marist College SUNY Cortland Syracuse Union College Liberty University Quinnipiac Temple Clark University Manhattan School of Music Utica College Bard College Buffalo State College| Ithaca College | Messiah College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
| Location | Ithaca, NY | Grantham, PA | ||
| Setting | Small Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 4,828 | 3,344 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #170 | #362 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Interdenominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ithaca.edu | messiah.edu | ||
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Costs |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $50,510 | $39,700 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $50,510 | $39,700 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,030 | $11,910 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,297 | $29,882 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,876 | $24,223 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,007 | 2,375 | ||
| Admitted | 8,398 | 1,864 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 69.9% | 78.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.3% | 32% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 27/31 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1370 | 1100/1340 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 74% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,100 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 84% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,750 | $25,989 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $266 | $268 |
Diversity |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 39% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 57% | 36% | ||
Campus |
Ithaca College | Messiah College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Ithaca College is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (4,828 students vs. 3,344 students)
Ithaca College vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College or Messiah College?
- Ithaca College is 27.2% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($50,510.00 vs. $39,700.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.2% higher at Ithaca College than Messiah College ($50,510.00 vs. $39,700.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than Ithaca College ($29,882 vs. $34,297)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 34.6% lower than costs at Ithaca College ($11,910 vs. $16,030)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Ithaca College as Messiah College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 31.6% larger than aid received Messiah College ($31,876 vs. $24,223)
Ithaca College vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College or Messiah College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messiah College or Ithaca College .
- Messiah College has a higher acceptance rate (78.5%) than Ithaca College (69.9%)
Ithaca College vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Ithaca College or Messiah College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Messiah College and Ithaca College.
- The graduation rate at Ithaca College is the same as at Messiah College (74% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from Ithaca College earn on average $7,500 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($56,100 vs. $48,600)
- Ithaca College students graduate with a $239 lower median federal student loan debt than Messiah College graduates. ($25,750 vs. $25,989)
- Ithaca College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Messiah College graduates. ($266 vs. $268)
- More Messiah College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ithaca College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 84%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/