U.S. News Names Ithaca College #1 for Undergraduate Teaching and #2 for Innovation

By Reina Martin, September 22, 2026

Annual Best Colleges report also ranks IC #8 among private colleges and #11 overall among regional universities in the North.

IC students walk on campus.

Photo Credit: Allison Usavage '11

Ithaca College ranks #1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching and #2 for Most Innovative Schools among Regional Universities in the North in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings published today. IC rose from #2 and #8, respectively, in last year’s rankings. The recognition highlights an educational experience built on close faculty mentorship and opportunities for students to connect theory, practice, and performance across their interests.

IC also rose two spots to #11 overall among regional universities and earned a #8 ranking among Top Private Colleges in the region, a new category introduced this year.

The rankings highlight hallmarks of an Ithaca College education: close faculty mentorship, the freedom to pursue multiple interests, and hands-on learning throughout all four years. Students put what they learn into practice in classrooms, labs, studios, clinics, performance spaces, and communities, gaining meaningful experience while exploring the many directions their interests can take them.

"Our faculty know their students, challenge them to engage seriously with new ideas, and create meaningful opportunities for them to put their learning into practice throughout their time here."

Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish.

“Those of us who know Ithaca College are not surprised to see IC recognized as the region’s leader in undergraduate teaching, but we are delighted,” said Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish. “Our faculty know their students, challenge them to engage seriously with new ideas, and create meaningful opportunities for them to put their learning into practice throughout their time here. We see the reach of that education in alumni earning Tony Awards, advancing important research, teaching music here in Ithaca and across the country, caring for patients, launching businesses, making films, and reporting stories around the world. Their many paths demonstrate the power and possibilities of an Ithaca College education.”

At Ithaca College, innovation begins with a willingness to rethink how and where students learn. The college continues to develop programs that bring fields together, build partnerships that expand professional pathways, and invest in spaces where students gain experience with the tools shaping their industries. These efforts give students more ways to combine their interests, develop new capabilities, and respond to a changing world.

“Excellent teaching is the foundation for innovation at IC. Our faculty pair deep expertise and personal mentorship with new programs, partnerships, and learning experiences that prepare students to adapt, contribute, and continue growing throughout their lives.”

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Melanie Stein

“At a moment when higher education must demonstrate its value and evolve in response to rapid change, being ranked #1 for undergraduate teaching and #2 for innovation tells a powerful story about Ithaca College,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Melanie Stein. “Excellent teaching is the foundation for innovation at IC. Our faculty pair deep expertise and personal mentorship with new programs, partnerships, and learning experiences that prepare students to adapt, contribute, and continue growing throughout their lives.”

The U.S. News results add to a series of recent recognitions of Ithaca College’s academic quality and student experience. The Hollywood Reporter ranked IC #17 among the nation’s top 25 film schools, while The Princeton Review included IC in its 2027 list of The Best 392 Colleges , with additional rankings of #8 for Best College Newspaper, #13 for Best College Theater, and #23 for Best College Radio Station. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education also recently reaffirmed IC’s accreditation.

For complete ranking details and methodology, visit usnews.com/best-colleges.