Ithaca College vs. SUNY-ESF

Deciding between Ithaca College and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry? 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
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • SUNY-ESF Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • SUNY-ESF Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • SUNY-ESF 2,757
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • SUNY-ESF Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • SUNY-ESF #224
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • SUNY-ESF -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • SUNY-ESF Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • SUNY-ESF
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • SUNY-ESF $9,303
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • SUNY-ESF $22,263
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • SUNY-ESF $18,080
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • SUNY-ESF $19,814
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • SUNY-ESF $8,699
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • SUNY-ESF 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • SUNY-ESF 3,745
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • SUNY-ESF 2,370
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • SUNY-ESF 63.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • SUNY-ESF 17.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • SUNY-ESF 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • SUNY-ESF 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • SUNY-ESF 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • SUNY-ESF A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • SUNY-ESF Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • SUNY-ESF Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SUNY-ESF 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • SUNY-ESF 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • SUNY-ESF Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • SUNY-ESF Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • SUNY-ESF 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • SUNY-ESF
    • Biology (38%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (37%)
    • Architecture (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Construction Trades (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • SUNY-ESF 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • SUNY-ESF $46,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • SUNY-ESF 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • SUNY-ESF $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • SUNY-ESF $204
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • SUNY-ESF 45%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • SUNY-ESF 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • SUNY-ESF Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • SUNY-ESF No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • SUNY-ESF 82%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • SUNY-ESF 3%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • SUNY-ESF 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • SUNY-ESF 5%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • SUNY-ESF 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • SUNY-ESF 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • SUNY-ESF 2%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • SUNY-ESF 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • SUNY-ESF 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • SUNY-ESF 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • SUNY-ESF 30%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ithaca College is larger than SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (4,767 students vs. 2,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ithaca College 10:1; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 14:1.

Ithaca College vs. SUNY-ESF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College or SUNY-ESF? 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than Ithaca College ($19,814 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 10.4% lower than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($16,192 vs. $18,080).
  • Ithaca College is 475.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-ESF (about $44,237 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $9,303.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 140.5% higher at Ithaca College than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (about $31,277 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $22,263.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 284.5% larger than aid received by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students ($33,450 vs. $8,699).

Ithaca College vs. SUNY-ESF Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ithaca College (1310) is 90 points higher than at SUNY-ESF (1220).
  • Incoming Ithaca College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at SUNY-ESF).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 1230/1390; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; SUNY-ESF - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; SUNY-ESF Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than SUNY-ESF (63.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 17.6% at SUNY-ESF.

Ithaca College vs. SUNY-ESF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College and SUNY-ESF? 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's (66%).
  • Graduates from Ithaca College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than SUNY-ESF graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($19,750 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY-ESF graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($204 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-ESF students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

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.