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 only the Common Application. Students should submit their application online, along with the $60 application fee, through the Common Application website.

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, and letters of reference. Auditions, portfolio reviews, or department interviews are also required in certain programs.

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.

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. Applications must be filed by November 1, with all supporting materials in place by November 15.

Early decision applicants to majors outside of music and theatre will be notified of the admission committee’s decision by December 15. Given the timing of auditions and interviews, music and theatre applicants may be notified a few days after December 15.

Early decision is a first-choice, binding agreement, and those offered admission will be expected to submit an enrollment confirmation and nonrefundable advance payment by February 1. Students offered early decision admission agree to withdraw applications submitted to other colleges or universities.

Early Action

Ithaca College offers a nonbinding early action option for students who complete their application to Ithaca College by December 1, with all supporting materials in place by December 15, and select early action on their Common Application. Early action applicants will be notified of an admission decision by February 1. It is important to note that due to the timing of the audition and interview process, early action is not offered to applicants in Music or Theatre.

Music and Theatre Arts

Early Decision applicants to the School of Music, Theatre and Dance apply by November 1, with all supporting materials in by November 15, and must audition or interview on the first available date.

Acting, Musical Theatre and Stage Management applicants may not apply early decision. 

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

The regular decision deadline for applicants to Acting and Musical Theatre is December 1, with all supporting materials in by December 15.

The regular decision deadline for applicants to Drumset, Sound Recording Technology and Voice majors is December 1, with all supporting materials in by December 15.

The regular decision deadline for all other majors in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance is February 1, with all supporting materials in by February 15. 

​Music and theatre applicants must also submit pre-screening materials and/or participate in an interview or audition. Pre-screening, audition, and interview requirements vary by major; see the appropriate website for details:

Center for Music Admission Requirements

Center for Theatre and Dance Admission Requirements

Regular Decision

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

• First-year and transfer candidates applying for the spring semester should apply no later than November 1, with all supporting materials in place by November 15.
• Prospective first-year students for the fall semester should apply no later than February 1, with all supporting materials in place by February 15.
• Prospective transfer students for the fall semester should apply no later than March 1, with all supporting materials in place by March 15.
• Transfer students are encouraged to submit their application early in the semester prior to their intended semester of entry.

Please see above for information regarding the Center for Music Admission and the Center for Theatre and Dance Admission requirements. 

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 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 105 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 2023-2024

Admission Application Filing Dates for Fall 2024

• Early decision applications must be received by November 1, 2023.
• Early decision notification will be released by December 15, 2023.
• Early decision enrollment deposit is due by February 1, 2024. 
• Early action applications must be received by December 1, 2023.
• Early action notification will be released on a rolling basis by February 1, 2024.
• First-year and transfer applications for the School of Music, Theatre and Dance should review the program specific application deadlines on school website. 

Center for Music Admission program application deadlines

Center for Theatre and Dance program application deadlines

• Regular decision applications for all programs except for those in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance must be received by February 1, 2024, for first-year students and by March 1, 2024 for transfer students.
• Regular decision notification will be released on a rolling basis by April 15, 2024.
• Regular decision enrollment deposits are due by May 1, 2024.
• Spring semester applications should be received by November 1, 2023. 

Financial Aid Application Filing Dates for Fall 2024

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 admission applicants are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it becomes available in December to be considered for all financial aid resources.

Early action and regular decision applicants are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by January 15, 2024 to be considered for all financial aid resources.

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 (by the priority deadline of November 1, 2023 for early decision applicants, or by January 15, 2024 for all other applicants). 

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.