Ithaca College

Ithaca College's published cost of attendance is $68,699. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $21,901, middle-income families pay around $28,832, and higher-income families pay approximately $38,785.

Azimuth ranks Ithaca College #1314 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Ithaca College meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.

The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs, with aid packages typically closing a meaningful portion of the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $53,476; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at Ithaca College's median four-year earnings of $60,436, median federal debt of $24,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $271 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Ithaca College earn median 4-year earnings of $60,436, placing Ithaca College in the 45.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,118 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ithaca College in the 7.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Ithaca College #1068 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Ithaca College's concentration in communication and media fields.

Radio, Television, and Digital Communication is the largest program with 148 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,804, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program graduates 138 students with median 4-year earnings of $68,029, while Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions and Business Administration round out the top programs with 126 and 123 graduates respectively.

These programs collectively anchor the institution's outcomes in creative and professional fields where Ithaca College maintains consistent employer relationships and alumni network presence.

Ithaca College's program mix is anchored in communication, media, and performing arts — a signature shaped by the institution's identity as a specialized arts and media-focused college. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication is the largest program with 148 graduates, followed by Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Business Administration, and Film/Video and Photographic Arts.

Across 0 ranked programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes relative to comparable programs at similar institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Ithaca College's concentration in creative and media fields.

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions leads with median earnings of $76,766 four years after enrollment, followed by Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences at $76,318, Business Administration at $75,810, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at $68,029, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education at $58,902. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, the institution's largest program, graduates 148 students annually and delivers median earnings of $58,804 — a solid outcome for a high-volume creative field.

The Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program graduates 138 students with median earnings of $68,029, demonstrating consistent outcomes across Ithaca College's core creative portfolio. These programs reflect the institution's positioning as a specialized arts and media college in a regional market.

Graduates in communication, media production, and performing arts enter creative industries where earnings depend heavily on field choice and market demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these creative fields align with national labor-market trends and employer hiring patterns.