Ithaca College vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Ithaca College and Syracuse 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
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ithaca College 10:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

Ithaca College vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College or Syracuse? 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 Syracuse ($35,253 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 15.6% lower than at Syracuse University ($16,192 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 22.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $11,988 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.4% higher at Syracuse than at Ithaca College (about $11,988 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Syracuse University (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($36,417 vs. $33,450).

Ithaca College vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Syracuse University (1360) is 50 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming Syracuse students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Ithaca College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 1230/1390; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

Ithaca College vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College and Syracuse? 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).

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Syracuse graduates ($25,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($266 vs. $279).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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.