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, disability, marital status, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military status.

Ithaca College accepts the Common Application and Coalition with Scoir. Students should submit their application online, along with the $60 application fee, through the Common Application or Coalition with Scoir.

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. Auditions, portfolio reviews, or department interviews are also required in certain programs. A letter(s) of recommendation or teacher evaluation is optional.

Students applying for admission have the option to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their admission file. Students who send scores should have them sent directly from the appropriate testing agency. Home schooled students and students who attend high schools that provide only descriptive report cards (rather than alphanumeric grades) must submit SAT or ACT scores. 

The Office of Admission reserves the right to request standardized test scores or other information about an applicant should the admission committee determine that additional information is necessary to make a decision.  

Office of Admission

The Office of Admission strongly encourages prospective students and their families to engage with the Ithaca College community. Virtual and on-campus visit opportunities are available on most weekdays and select Saturdays while the College is in session as well as throughout the summer. See ithaca.edu/visit for additional information. Please contact the Office of Admission at admission@ithaca.edu or 1-607-274-3124 if you have any questions.

APPLICATION INFORMATION (except FOR School of Music, Theatre, and dance Majors)

Early Decision

The Office of Admission encourages qualified candidates who have selected Ithaca College as their first choice to consider applying under the early decision program. Early decision is a first-choice, binding agreement, and those offered admission will be expected to submit an enrollment confirmation and nonrefundable advance deposit by February 1. Students offered early decision admission agree to withdraw applications submitted to other colleges or universities.

Applications must be filed by November 1. Decisions will be released by December 15.

Early Action

Ithaca College offers a nonbinding early action option for students who complete their application to Ithaca College by December 1. Early action applicants will be notified of an admission decision by February 1. 

Regular Decision

First-year and transfer candidates may apply for regular admission for the fall or spring semester.

• First-year and transfer applicants for the spring semester should apply no later than November 1.
• First-year applicants for the fall semester should apply no later than February 1.
• Transfer applicants for the fall semester should apply no later than March 1.
  • Transfer students are encouraged to submit their application early in the semester preceding their intended semester of entry.

APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE MAJORS

EARLY ACTION

Early action is not offered for applicants to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

EARLY DECISION

Early decision is not offered for applicants to Acting, Dance and Choreography for Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre, Stage Management, or Theatre Production and Design or transfer applicants.

Early decision applicants to all other programs must submit their Common Application or Coalition Application and Acceptd application by November 1 and must audition or interview on the first available audition/interview date. 

Early decision applicants will be notified of their admission decision around December 15.

REGULAR DECISION

Spring semester admission is not offered for Acting, Dance and Choreography for Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre, Sound Recording Technology, Stage Management, or Theatre Production & Design.

Spring applicants to all other programs must submit their Common Application and Acceptd application by November 1 and must audition or interview on the first available audition/interview date.

Regular decision applicants to Acting, Musical Theatre, Sound Recording Technology (all instruments), and Voice (all programs) must submit their Common Application or Coalition Application and Acceptd application with pre-screen materials by December 1. 

Applicants to Acting, Dance and Choreography for Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre, and Voice (all programs) must submit pre-screen materials as part of their Acceptd application before being invited to audition. Pre-screen requirements vary by program; see requirements here:

Music Admission Requirements

Theatre and Dance Admission Requirements

Regular decision applicants to all other majors in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance have until February 1 to submit the Common Application or Coalition Application and Acceptd application for fall admission. 

Transfer applicants must submit their Common Application or Coalition Application and Acceptd application by the dates listed above. 

English Language Testing Requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit official results of a test of English proficiency.

Recommended minimum scores:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Recommended score of 80 or higher on 120 point scale or 4.0 or higher on the 1-6 point scale on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Recommended score of 6.0 or higher.
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): Recommended score of 54 or higher.
• Duolingo English Test: Recommended score of 115 or higher.

Applicants who have previously attended a high school, college or university for at least three years, where English is the principal language of instruction and have earned passing grades in English courses are exempt from an English proficiency exam. A score of 600 or its equivalent on the evidence-based reading and writing section of the SAT also exempts applicants from the testing requirement.

For more information, please review the following websites:

• TOEFL 
• IELTS 
• PTE Academic 
• Duolingo English Test 

Orientation

A special orientation program is held for new students. Academic advising and assistance in acclimating to the Ithaca College community are integral parts of this program. New students are required to attend. Details of dates, costs that may be involved, and the program itself are provided to new students by the Office of New Student and Transition Programs.

• Office of New Student & Transition Programs
• Orientation website 

Filing Dates for 2026-2027

Admission Application Filing Dates for Fall 2027

• Early decision applications must be received by November 1, 2026.
• Early decision notification will be released by December 15, 2026.
• Early decision enrollment deposit is due by February 1, 2027. 
• Early action applications must be received by December 1, 2026.
• Early action notification will be released on a rolling basis by February 1, 2027.
• Regular decision applications for all programs except for those in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance must be received by February 1, 2027, for first-year students and by March 1, 2027 for transfer students.
• Regular decision notification will be released on a rolling basis by April 15, 2027.
• Regular decision enrollment deposits are due by May 1, 2027.
• Spring semester applications should be received by November 1, 2026. 
• Spring enrollment deposits are due by December 15, 2026.

Financial Aid Application Filing Dates for Fall 2027

To be considered for all types of financial aid aside from merit scholarships, U.S Citizens and eligible non-citizens must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

• Early decision applicants are encouraged to file by November 1, 2026.
• Early action applicants are encouraged to file by December 1, 2026.
• Regular decision applicants are encouraged to file by February 1, 2027.

Applicants who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA will be prompted to complete a separate financial aid application to be considered for need-based financial aid at Ithaca College. The financial aid application will be available after the application for admission is submitted.

For more information and/or deadline dates, please refer to:

• Office of Student Financial Services
• FAFSA

If you have any questions about applying for financial aid, you may contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 1-607-274-3131.