Ithaca College vs. SUNY Cortland

Deciding between Ithaca College and State University of New York at Cortland? 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
State University of New York at Cortland

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • SUNY Cortland Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • SUNY Cortland 6,938
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Cortland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • SUNY Cortland #422
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • SUNY Cortland -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • SUNY Cortland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • SUNY Cortland
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • SUNY Cortland $8,874
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • SUNY Cortland $18,784
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • SUNY Cortland $15,560
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • SUNY Cortland $19,847
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • SUNY Cortland $8,254
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • SUNY Cortland 63%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • SUNY Cortland 17,571
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • SUNY Cortland 10,505
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • SUNY Cortland 59.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • SUNY Cortland 13.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • SUNY Cortland 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • SUNY Cortland 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • SUNY Cortland 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • SUNY Cortland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • SUNY Cortland Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SUNY Cortland 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • SUNY Cortland 1090/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • SUNY Cortland Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • SUNY Cortland
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • SUNY Cortland 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • SUNY Cortland
    • Education (41%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • SUNY Cortland 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • SUNY Cortland $47,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • SUNY Cortland 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • SUNY Cortland $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • SUNY Cortland $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • SUNY Cortland 44%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • SUNY Cortland 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • SUNY Cortland 74%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • SUNY Cortland 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • SUNY Cortland 11%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • SUNY Cortland 2%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • SUNY Cortland 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ithaca College 10:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

Ithaca College vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College or SUNY Cortland? 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 State University of New York at Cortland than Ithaca College ($19,847 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 3.9% lower than at Ithaca College ($15,560 vs. $16,192).
  • Ithaca College is 503.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $44,666 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $8,874.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 185% higher at Ithaca College than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $34,756 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $18,784.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at State University of New York at Cortland (100% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 305.3% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($33,450 vs. $8,254).

Ithaca College vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland and Ithaca College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ithaca College (1310) is 140 points higher than at SUNY Cortland (1170).
  • Incoming Ithaca College students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 1230/1390; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

Ithaca College vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland? 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).

  • Ithaca College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than State University of New York at Cortland's (67%).
  • Graduates from Ithaca College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($222 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Cortland students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 75%)

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.