BU vs. Ithaca College

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston University
Ithaca College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Ithaca College -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Ithaca College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Ithaca College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Ithaca College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Ithaca College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Ithaca College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Ithaca College $266

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Ithaca College Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Ithaca College No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Ithaca College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Ithaca College 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 4,767 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Ithaca College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than Ithaca College ($24,420 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 14.9% lower than at Boston University ($16,192 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 27.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ithaca College (about $14,562 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.2% higher at BU than at Ithaca College (about $14,562 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $53,540.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at Boston University (100% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 84.9% larger than aid received by Ithaca College students ($61,848 vs. $33,450).

BU vs. Ithaca College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 170 points higher than at Ithaca College (1310).
  • Incoming BU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Ithaca College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Ithaca College 1230/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Ithaca College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Ithaca College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 12.3% at Ithaca College.

BU vs. Ithaca College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Ithaca College's (74%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Ithaca College graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($25,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Ithaca College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($266 vs. $279).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)

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.