Northeastern vs. Ithaca College

Deciding between Northeastern University and Ithaca College? 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.

Northeastern University
Ithaca College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Ithaca College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Ithaca College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Ithaca College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Ithaca College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Ithaca College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Ithaca College $266

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Ithaca College Low
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Ithaca College No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Ithaca College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Ithaca College 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Ithaca College is in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Ithaca College 10:1.

Northeastern vs. Ithaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or Ithaca College? 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 Northeastern University than Ithaca College ($34,207 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 17.3% lower than at Northeastern University ($16,192 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 23.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $12,622 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.6% higher at Northeastern than at Ithaca College (about $12,622 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Northeastern University (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 50.7% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($50,421 vs. $33,450).

Northeastern vs. Ithaca College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 180 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Ithaca College 1230/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Ithaca College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Ithaca College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 12.3% at Ithaca College.

Northeastern vs. Ithaca College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Northeastern University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have a $2,125 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($25,750 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($266 vs. $288).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 79%)

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.