Ithaca College vs. San Diego State

Deciding between Ithaca College and San Diego State University? 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.

Ithaca College
San Diego State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • San Diego State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • San Diego State #353
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • San Diego State -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • San Diego State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • San Diego State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • San Diego State 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • San Diego State 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • San Diego State 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • San Diego State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • San Diego State High
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • San Diego State 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • San Diego State 1090/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • San Diego State 66%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • San Diego State 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • San Diego State $158

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • San Diego State 43%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • San Diego State 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • San Diego State Very High
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • San Diego State No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • San Diego State 34%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • San Diego State 14%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • San Diego State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • San Diego State 31%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • San Diego State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • San Diego State 7%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • San Diego State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • San Diego State 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • San Diego State 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • San Diego State 23%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY with San Diego State University in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

San Diego State University is larger than Ithaca College based on total student enrollment (41,137 students vs. 4,767 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • Ithaca College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ithaca College 10:1; San Diego State University 27:1.

Ithaca College vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College or San Diego State? 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 San Diego State University than Ithaca College ($14,704 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 29.7% lower than at San Diego State University ($16,192 vs. $23,030).
  • Ithaca College is 513.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego State (about $44,812 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $8,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 151% higher at Ithaca College than at San Diego State University (about $32,212 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $21,328.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at San Diego State University (100% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 177.5% larger than aid received by San Diego State University students ($33,450 vs. $12,053).

Ithaca College vs. San Diego State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College or San Diego State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between San Diego State and Ithaca College.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Ithaca College (1310) is 110 points higher than at San Diego State (1200).
  • Incoming Ithaca College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 25 at San Diego State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ithaca College 1230/1390; San Diego State University 1090/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Ithaca College 27/30; San Diego State University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; San Diego State - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; San Diego State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Ithaca College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than San Diego State (36.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 20.4% at San Diego State.

Ithaca College vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College and San Diego State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Ithaca College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than San Diego State University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Ithaca College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than San Diego State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $53,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $10,401 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($15,349 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($158 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 65%)

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.