Admission to Ithaca College is selective. Applicants are carefully considered on the basis of individual qualifications, both academic and nonacademic. No decision to deny admission will be based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Most students have followed traditional college preparation programs in secondary school; however, applicants from nontraditional schools are encouraged to apply. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts of all their secondary school and college-level coursework, a report of SAT or ACT scores from the appropriate testing agency, and letters of reference. Auditions, portfolio reviews, and department interviews are also required in certain programs.
Ithaca College accepts only the Common Application, which allows students to apply to multiple schools at once. Students should submit this application online, along with the required Ithaca College supplement available on the Common Application site.
Students interested in admission to Ithaca are encouraged to register for an account at my.ithaca.edu. The myIthaca portal provides in-depth information about the College and allows students to check application status and register for campus events. Details of our admission process, including transfer admission, advanced placement, and special requirements for specific programs, are provided on our website and available from the Office of Admission.
myIthaca
Office of Admission
Freshman and transfer candidates may apply for admission for the fall or spring semester. Prospective freshmen should apply in their senior year of secondary school, no later than February 1 for the fall semester and no later than November 1 for the spring semester. Transfers should submit their application early in the semester prior to entry, and no later than March 1 for fall or November 1 for spring admission. Students who are interested in entering college early or who wish to take time off between high school and college may obtain information on early or deferred admission.
A special orientation program is held for new students. As academic advising and registration are an integral part of this program, it is essential that all new students attend. Details of dates, costs that may be involved, and the program itself are provided to new students by the Office for New Student Programs.
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) by arrangement with the Educational Testing Service. The test scores must be reported directly by the testing organization to the undergraduate admission office. A satisfactory command of English is essential for successful undergraduate study. Applicants are expected to achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper version, 213 on the computer version, or 80 on the Internet-based version (iBT). A score of 600 or its equivalent on the verbal section of the SAT exempts applicants from the TOEFL test requirement. If TOEFL bulletins and registration forms are not available locally, they may be obtained by writing to Test of English as a Foreign Language, Box 6154, Princeton, NJ 08541-6154, or by calling 609-951-1100.
Prospective students and families are encouraged to visit Ithaca College. Campus tours, group information sessions, and individual appointments are conducted on most weekdays and selected Saturdays while the College is in session. Information sessions and tours are also available throughout the summer. Visitors are asked to contact the Office of Admission for assistance with their plans prior to their visit. Tours depart from the admission office.
* Applications for admission must be received by February 1, 2009, for freshmen, and by March 1 for transfers.
* Notification will be released on a modified rolling basis by April 15, 2009.
* Enrollment deposits are due by May 1, 2009.
* Applicants seeking notification of their financial aid eligibility before the enrollment deposit due date must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the U.S. Department of Education by February 1, 2009.
* Ithaca College anticipates accepting information via the Profile application available through the College Scholarship Service (CSS). For more information and/or deadline dates, please refer to our Office of Financial Aid website.
Financial Aid Website
* All candidates seeking federal aid must file the official FAFSA form with the U.S. Department of Education before the end of the period for which aid is sought.