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Ithaca scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$83,171per year · 2026-2027 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Ithaca is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 11 published awards, and one is based on those numbers.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
3 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

Step 1 of comparing your list

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Checking merit aid at Ithaca

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The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Ithaca College ScholarshipAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Ithaca College Scholarship

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Ithaca College Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Exceptional academic ability and/or talent, regardless of financial need; automatic consideration with admission application

    How to keep it

    All the awards may be renewed annually for the duration of the student's undergraduate study as long as the student maintains full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress toward a degree. A review of each student's academic performance is conducted by the Office of Student Financial Services before approval for renewal.

    Worth knowing

    No dollar grid or stat cutoffs published; 'Scholarship amounts vary depending upon the date attendance began.'

  2. Presidential ScholarshipFull tuition and feesNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Presidential Scholarship

    Full tuition and fees

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Presidential Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Separate application due November 1; FAFSA (or IC international aid application) due November 1; recipients should embody Ithaca College values

    How to keep it

    May be renewed annually for up to 4 years/8 semesters as long as the student maintains full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress toward a degree.

    Worth knowing

    Cannot be combined with a scholar program and replaces any previously awarded Ithaca College Scholarship.

  3. Ithaca College Residential Experience Scholarship$2,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Ithaca College Residential Experience Scholarship

    $2,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Ithaca College Residential Experience Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Living in on-campus housing on the Ithaca campus

    How to keep it

    Renewable each year that the student is living on campus; subject to a review of the student's satisfactory academic progress each semester.

    Worth knowing

    Lost in any year the student moves off campus.

  4. Leadership Scholar ProgramAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Leadership Scholar Program

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Leadership Scholar Program

    Who qualifies

    Demonstrated record of leadership and above-average academic performance; separate application due December 1

    How to keep it

    Renewable contingent upon continued demonstration of leadership and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 at the end of each semester. Full-time enrollment is required.

  5. Martin Luther King Scholar ProgramAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Martin Luther King Scholar Program

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Martin Luther King Scholar Program

    Who qualifies

    Academically talented first-years with community service involvement who embody the ideals of MLK Jr.; separate application due December 1

    How to keep it

    Scholarships page: renewable contingent upon continued participation in the program and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of each semester. NOTE: the 2025-2026 catalog states the MLK CGPA requirement is 2.5 — pages conflict.

  6. Park Scholar Program AwardAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Park Scholar Program Award

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Park Scholar Program Award

    Who qualifies

    Roy H. Park School of Communications students demonstrating academic and creative achievement in communications, co-curricular involvement, and community service; separate application due December 1

    How to keep it

    Scholars receive this award throughout their Ithaca College career by maintaining a predetermined standard of performance.

    Worth knowing

    Funded by the Park Foundation; awarded regardless of financial need. Amount not stated on the scholarships page opened.

  7. Innovation Scholar Program AwardAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Innovation Scholar Program Award

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Innovation Scholar Program Award

    Who qualifies

    School of Humanities and Sciences students selected for the Innovation Scholar Program; separate application due December 1

    How to keep it

    Automatically renewed each semester provided: enrollment in a School of Humanities and Sciences undergraduate program; full-time enrollment (minimum 12 credits/semester); 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA; participation in Innovation Scholar programming; and good judicial standing.

  8. Ithaca Premier Talent ScholarshipAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Ithaca Premier Talent Scholarship

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Ithaca Premier Talent Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Selected new students majoring in music and theater — programs where artistic, technological, managerial, or theatrical talent is an admission criterion

    How to keep it

    Good academic standing and full-time enrollment are required.

  9. Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarships$2,000AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarships

    $2,000

    Published amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.5 minimum cumulative GPA
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarships

    Who qualifies

    Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society membership; high school diploma at time of application; full-time enrollment; automatic consideration during admission review

    How to keep it

    Renewable; full-time enrollment required.

    Worth knowing

    Unlimited number available; transfer-specific merit track.

  10. NYS Resident Scholarship$1,500Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    NYS Resident Scholarship

    $1,500

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for NYS Resident Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Incoming students who are residents of New York State

    Worth knowing

    Renewability not stated on the page.

  11. Good Neighbor Scholarship$1,500Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Good Neighbor Scholarship

    $1,500

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Good Neighbor Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Students residing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut

    Worth knowing

    Renewability not stated on the page.

Lights up against Ithaca's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office. Award terms and residency rules change; some awards differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Always confirm at the school’s source page.

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  • “it told me what to ask and what the renewal GPA looked like, which I was not going to find on my own”Melissa

The fine print

Renewal ruleIthaca College Scholarship: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

All the awards may be renewed annually for the duration of the student's undergraduate study as long as the student maintains full-time enrollment and satisfactory progress toward a degree. A review of each student's academic performance is conducted by the Office of Student Financial Services before approval for renewal. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Outside awardsNo published displacement order

Ithaca's policy doesn't specify whether outside scholarships hit loans, grants, or only the COA ceiling. Get a written aid-office answer before chasing private awards.

What makes Ithaca different

Ithaca stacks an automatic, unpublished-amount Ithaca College Scholarship with named scholar programs (Presidential full tuition+fees, Park, MLK, Leadership, Innovation), small residency awards, and a $2,000/yr on-campus housing scholarship — but the Presidential award replaces, not adds to, other Ithaca merit.

Merit tiers111 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Ithaca's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

Straight from the aid office

What Ithaca's aid office says

Per the Office of Admission / Student Financial Services, Ithaca College, August 2026. How we verify

SAT superscoring

Does Ithaca College superscore SAT results across test dates?

Ithaca College superscores all SAT scores submitted to them.

“We do superscore all SAT scores that are submitted to us.”
Effect of higher SAT on merit scholarship

Would a higher fall SAT score move a student into a better scholarship tier?

A small change in SAT score often will not significantly change a student's merit scholarship, especially for a student who already has a high GPA and SAT score.

“often a small change in a student's SAT will not alter their merit scholarship drastically, if at all”
Stacking scholarships with merit award

Can a scholar/presidential award combine with the merit scholarship, or does it replace it?

Some Scholar Program or Presidential Scholarship awards, if granted, will replace the merit scholarship offered upon admission rather than stack with it.

“Some of these awards, if granted, will replace the merit scholarship offered upon admission.”
Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement

What GPA/academic standard is needed to keep a scholarship year to year?

Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degree to maintain their scholarships.

“students are required to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress<https://www.ithaca.edu/tuition-financial-aid/financial-aid-policies/satisfactory-academic-progress> (SAP) towards their degree in order to maintain their scholarships”
Support if falling behind on SAP

Is there a way back if a student has one bad semester affecting their scholarship?

If a student appears to be falling behind, the Academic Support Center will assist them so they can continue to make SAP and keep their scholarship funding.

“If a student is looking like they may be falling behind, our Academic Support Center will be there to assist the student so that they can continue to make SAP and maintain their scholarship funding.”
Stacking outside scholarships

Can outside scholarships be combined with the school's financial aid package?

Outside scholarships can be stacked on top of the offered aid package as long as the total award does not exceed the cost of attendance.

“We can stack outside scholarships on top of the aid package we offer as long as the total award amount doesn't exceed the cost of attendance.”
SAP requirement for continued aid

What academic requirement must be met to keep receiving aid each semester?

Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue receiving aid each semester.

“Students are required to meet SAP (https://www.ithaca.edu/tuition-financial-aid/financial-aid-policies/satisfactory-academic-progress) to continue receiving aid each semester”
Scholarship-specific requirements

Do some scholarships have their own separate GPA or renewal requirements?

Some scholarships have more specific requirements beyond the general SAP standard.

“although some scholarships (https://www.ithaca.edu/tuition-financial-aid/undergraduate-financial-aid/types-financial-aid/scholarships/ithaca-scholarships-new-students) do have more specific requirements”
Referral for merit scholarship questions

Who handles questions about merit scholarship tiers and test scores?

The Admissions office was copied to address the merit scholarship questions.

“I've copied Admissions on my response to address the questions about merit scholarships.”

What families often miss

  1. The page states it 'cannot be combined with a scholar program and replaces any previously awarded Ithaca College Scholarship' — winning Presidential means giving up Park/MLK/Leadership/Innovation and the IC Scholarship.

  2. Both the separate Presidential application AND the FAFSA (or international aid application) must be submitted by November 1; the scholar programs' applications are due December 1.

  3. It is renewable only 'each year that the student is living on campus' — moving off campus forfeits it.

  4. The catalog requires reporting all outside awards immediately and 'reserves the right to change financial aid awards when students receive additional awards from any source.'

  5. Renewal GPAs differ by award: 2.75 (Leadership), 3.0 (MLK per the scholarships page; the catalog says 2.5 — ask the aid office which governs), 3.0 (Innovation). Dropping below full-time (12 credits) also breaks merit renewal.

  6. Per the catalog, 'Financial aid is usually terminated after eight semesters unless the course of study normally requires additional semesters,' and the Presidential Scholarship is capped at 4 years/8 semesters.

  7. The catalog states a student 'automatically forfeits financial aid when they withdraw, are suspended, or are dismissed,' and awards are not renewed after returning without an approved leave of absence.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Strong students who apply early and chase the named scholar programs — especially communications students (Park) and leaders/service-oriented applicants (Leadership, MLK). Every named program has a separate application and a Nov 1 or Dec 1 deadline.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $83,171 for 2026-2027. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Ithaca, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Ithaca, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$21,901
$30,001–$48,000$23,335
$48,001–$75,000$28,832
$75,001–$110,000$31,846
$110,001+$38,785
All income levels (average)$33,926

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$53,540
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$33,926

That works out to roughly a 51% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $68,699 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
76%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
85%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$24,000 (~$254/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$63,548
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
20%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
68%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship cannot be combined with a scholar program and replaces any previously awarded Ithaca College Scholarship. Separately, the catalog requires students to report all outside awards and reserves Ithaca's right to change (reduce) Ithaca awards when students receive additional awards from any source; the reduction order is not specified.

Catalog 'Report All Awards': outside resources must be reported via the Outside Resources Form; 'Ithaca College reserves the right to change financial aid awards when students receive additional awards from any source.' If actual Pell/state awards exceed estimates, Ithaca awards may be reduced. Whether outside scholarships reduce loans or grants first is not stated.

Source

Other Ithaca scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityNo application required; no CGPA requirement for renewal (per catalog)

Mentioned in the catalog's Duration and Limitations of Awards section; amounts and full criteria not published there.

Source

Ithaca merit aid FAQ

  • What is the Presidential Scholarship deadline?

    The Presidential Scholarship application is due by November 1, and the FAFSA (or the Ithaca College Financial Aid application for international citizens) must also be submitted by November 1.

  • When are the scholar program applications (Park, MLK, Leadership, Innovation) due?

    Applications for the Leadership, MLK, Park, and Innovation Scholar programs are all due December 1, submitted online after applying to Ithaca College.

  • Do I need a separate application for the Ithaca College Scholarship?

    No. 'All incoming students automatically are considered for these scholarships; no special application is necessary.'

  • How much does the Ithaca College Scholarship pay?

    Ithaca does not publish amounts; the page says 'Ithaca College Scholarship amounts vary depending upon the date attendance began.' Use the Net Price Calculator or ask Student Financial Services for current ranges.

  • What does Ithaca cost for 2026–27?

    The estimated cost of attending for 2026–27 is $83,171 total: tuition $59,440, housing and meals $16,520, books $850, personal $1,100, transportation $550, Student Support and Technology Fee $300, and health insurance $4,411 (waivable with proof of comparable coverage).

See sources and other schools

How Ithaca compares

  • 133 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use unclear or unpublished displacement.

    Ithaca is in a recognizable cluster (133 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 133 of 749 verified schools publish no clear displacement order.

    Ithaca is one of them. The right move is the aid-office email script below, not a guess.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Ithaca is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Ithaca’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

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  • NYU merit aid. New York private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • St. Lawrence merit aid. New York private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • Syracuse merit aid. New York private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.

Keep exploring Ithaca merit aid

The next chapter

Where does Ithaca fit in your plan?

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An illustrative student profile, with a school order, scholarship research and a to-do list. Open the sample to see how it works.

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