Ithaca College Big Fat Zero Aid

Daughter was accepted to Ithaca college and was so happy-entire family happy in fact. Then the skinny envelope with financial package arrived. Big Zero In any merit money, but you can get loans, sign me up! Nice school too expensive to be close to $400k in debt at the end. Not a typo. I was embarrassed actually for the college to send a letter saying they were pleased to announce their financial package when in fact I would’ve been happier for them to say we’re sorry we are unable to offer you any money, but we still hope you choose Ithaca College. Waste of an application fee. I was warned a friend told me Ithaca gives nothing he was right. We got other offers though from institutions. In fact up to 35k. Too bad Ithaca! Good luck everyone in you higher ed pursuits.

What did the Ithaca NPC say?

NPC projected $38 and change all in… in that number is the projected $17k in merit. It was still at the top of our school range for price. But I was not expecting all in to be $57K. It’s sad to say to your child sorry we nor you can afford this college. But we are moving on. I wish the school gave us a better answer. And so it goes.

Our son got a 15K scholarship, but the grant aid was 5K under what the NPC predicted. No way Ithaca is worth 15K more per year than his 2nd choice school (also private).

So sorry to read this. My D19 is very interested in IC, but I have gathered from reading here that it can be stingy with merit aid. I also ran the NPC with “guestimates” but aimed a little low in the GPA/test scores. It indicated a possible scholarship of $17k, so I upped the scores and got to $20k. Of course, now I don’t trust any estimates from that NPC.

Would anyone mind posting their stats, or perhaps which major was applied to? I imagine some are harder than others.

My fingers are crossed for you! I hope it works out. Please let us know. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing. I could not agree with you more. Our other private choice in NY state gave us plenty $$$$$ rivaling in state tuition in Ohio. Happy to have some options and not be in debt forever!

My S was a 3.4 with a 1370. He got 14k/yr if that helps. He is a film major.

My S is a student at Ithaca. We were very happy with his financial aid package upon acceptance, and how the financial aid office has continued to work with us as he continues his education.

I think our son is going to appeal, since the package offered was 5K under what the NPC predicted and that 5K is the difference between attending and not attending.

I think our son is going to appeal, since the package offered was 5K under what the NPC predicted and that 5K is the difference between attending and not attending.

Give it a shot. If $5k is the go/no go margin, they may give a bit more in Grant or scholarship.

Everything or most everything is negotiable. Good luck. IC is a beautiful campus with a good education if you can afford it.