What do students say about Ithaca College?

Students generally praise Ithaca College for its supportive, hands-on learning, passionate professors, small classes, and vibrant, LGBTQ+-friendly environment with beautiful nature and a fun town, but some mention challenging winter weather, accessibility issues due to the steep campus, and typical university complaints about dining or registration, though overall sentiment leans very positive, highlighting strong community and career prep.

What is the reputation of Ithaca College?

#13 in Regional Universities North. It's also ranked No. #2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,268 (fall 2024), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 670 acres.

Why are people leaving Ithaca?

This is unsustainable and it maps onto multiple known inequities regarding housing, racialized and class-based labor market inequities, and meager inflation adjusted wage growth. The current situation is forcing families to consider leaving town. The 2023 Ithaca Living Wage Report can be viewed here.

What is the vibe at Ithaca College?

Ithaca College strikes a balance between being a medium-sized school and offering a vibrant college town atmosphere, which many students appreciate for its accessibility and opportunities.

How would you describe Ithaca, NY?

The Town of Ithaca is a mosaic of rural, suburban, and urban landscapes that surrounds the City of Ithaca. It is a college town, a farm town, a Finger Lakes community, and a tourist destination renowned for its scenic vistas, forested hillsides, gorges, waterfalls and Cayuga Lake.

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Is Ithaca queer friendly?

Ithaca is Inclusive. Known for being one of the most progressive and open-minded areas in Upstate New York, Ithaca offers an enlightened demographic of folks who pride themselves on being one of 'The Advocate' Magazine's first “10 Best Cities for Gays and Lesbians to Live”.

What is the average household income in Ithaca NY?

In Ithaca, NY, the median household income is around $48,617 (2019-2023 data), while the average (mean) household income is significantly higher, about $78,880, reflecting a wide range of earnings, especially with major institutions like Cornell and Ithaca College, with incomes varying greatly by age group (e.g., much higher for 45-64 age bracket). 

What kind of kids go to Ithaca College?

Race & Ethnicity

Ithaca College has a diverse student body with 26% students of color and NaN% international students, creating a rich multicultural learning environment that celebrates students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Is Ithaca College a big party school?

What is the party and nightlife scene like at Ithaca College? Ithaca College offers a vibrant party scene, with numerous locations for socializing both on campus and in nearby Ithaca, including events at Cornell University.

Is Ithaca College a little ivy?

Ithaca College is not an Ivy League school. The Ivy League consists of eight prestigious schools in the United States, namely Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

Is Ithaca College in trouble?

The college furloughed or laid off at least 264 staff members in 2020 and 2021 and cut 130 faculty positions in 2021 to cut $40 million in expenses.

Are students at Cornell depressed?

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health concerns faced by college students. Whether experienced as an occasional episode or an ongoing challenge, many students will struggle with some variation of depression and/or anxiety while at Cornell.

What is the nicest neighborhood in Ithaca NY?

Fall Creek is often cited as one of Ithaca's nicest neighborhoods for its blend of community feel, family-friendliness, amenities, and proximity to Cornell, while South Hill and West Hill are also popular for their stability, green spaces, and residential appeal, with Cayuga Heights being known for quiet charm, though it's a matter of preference for students vs. families.
 

What is the hardest College to get into at Cornell?

The hardest Cornell school to get into is typically the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, often followed by the College of Arts & Sciences, and the College of Engineering, due to extremely low acceptance rates and high applicant volume, though acceptance rates vary yearly and by program, with Dyson and A&S consistently being the most competitive. 

What is the #1 best music school?

There's no single "number one" music school, as it depends on focus (classical, contemporary, business), but The Juilliard School (NYC) is consistently ranked top for traditional performance/classical. Other elite institutions include Curtis Institute of Music, Berklee College of Music (especially for contemporary/Hollywood), and New England Conservatory, with rankings varying by source like Musical America, QS Rankings, and industry lists. 

What famous people went to Ithaca College?

Ithaca College boasts many notable alumni in media, entertainment, and sports, including business leader Bob Iger (Disney), news anchors David Muir (ABC) & David Boreanaz (actor, Bones), comedian/actress Allison Janney (The West Wing), actress Meg Ryan, and ESPN anchor Bruce Beck, alongside prominent figures in music, theatre (like Aaron Tveit), and athletics (former wrestler Gorilla Monsoon). 

Is Ithaca Republican?

No, Ithaca is overwhelmingly Democratic, not Republican, with local elections consistently showing strong Democratic wins and a Republican party chair acknowledging few registered Republicans in the city, though Ithaca College has a conservative student presence. The city, part of Tompkins County, votes heavily blue in local and state elections, with even national races seeing Democrats sweep the area, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. 

What is the nickname of Ithaca College?

The Ithaca athletics nickname "Bombers" is unique in NCAA athletics, and the origins of the nickname are obscure. Ithaca College's sports teams were originally named the Cayugas, but the name was changed to the Bombers sometime in the 1930s.

Is Ithaca College a yellow ribbon school?

Ithaca College is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state private school, foreign school, or graduate school tuition and fees that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover.

Is Ithaca hard to get into?

Ithaca College is considered moderately selective, with an acceptance rate around 69-70%, meaning a solid application with strong grades (average GPA 3.7-3.8+) and competitive test scores (SAT 1230-1390, ACT 27-30) gives you a good chance, but it's not "hard" in the Ivy League sense; it requires strong academics but also a well-rounded application. 

Is Ithaca College a dry campus?

Students age 21 or older may possess and consume alcohol in any residence hall room or apartment, but they are prohibited from purchasing alcohol for, or providing alcohol to minors. The following are PROHIBITED: Open containers of any type of alcoholic beverage in public areas on campus, unless at a registered event.

What is the #1 college town in the US?

There's no single #1 college town, as rankings vary by study, but Austin, TX, often tops lists for overall student experience (WalletHub 2026), while Ann Arbor, MI, is frequently praised for its UMich dominance and vibrant culture (Bestcolleges.com), and Bozeman, MT, is recognized for its natural amenities and quality of life (RentCafe 2025). Other top contenders include Ames, IA, for job opportunities, and smaller towns like Alfred, NY, for high student population density.
 

Why is Ithaca, NY so expensive?

Ithaca's high cost of living is driven by an expensive housing market and unusually high local tax burdens that have disproportionally fallen on homeowners and renters. Major landowners like Cornell University do not pay full property taxes, leaving the extra costs to Ithaca residents.

Does it snow a lot in Ithaca, NY?

Yes, Ithaca gets a significant amount of snow, averaging around 60-70 inches annually, with January being the snowiest month, but snowfall can vary due to local geography and lake-effect snow from nearby Cayuga Lake, leading to a mix of heavy snow and sometimes less accumulation downtown compared to surrounding areas. Winters are cold, with snow arriving in late November and lasting into March or April, bringing a classic humid continental climate. 

What is the crime rate in Ithaca?

Ithaca, NY, has a higher overall crime rate than the national average, particularly for property crime, but recent data from the Ithaca Police Department (IPD) suggests city-wide decreases in calls and arrests in 2023-2024, though specific areas like the Ithaca Commons have seen increases, with property crime rising in the past, especially vehicle thefts. While overall trends show improvement, property crime remains a concern, impacting residents and local business owners.