Ithaca College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $332.7 million
- Spending
- $344.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 3,899
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $752,094, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $205.8 million spent. INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE: ITHACA COLLEGE IS A PRIVATE, NONSECTARIAN, COEDUCATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE LOCATED IN ITHACA, NEW YORK. THE PRINCETON REVIEW CONSISTENTLY NAMES THE COLLEGE AMONG THE BEST COLLEGES IN THE NATION, WITH "THE BEST 391 COLLEGES: 2026 EDITION" AWARDING THE COLLEGE HIGH RANKINGS ON LISTS FOR BEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER, BEST COLLEGE RADIO STATION, BEST COLLEGE THEATER, AND TOP 50 GREEN COLLEGES. IN FALL 2025, THE COLLEGE ENROLLED 4,205 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND 586 GRADUATE STUDENTS. ROY H. PARK SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS: THE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS, RECOGNIZED AS A LEADING UNDERGRADUATE COMMUNICATIONS SCHOOL, IS KNOWN FOR ITS PROMINENT STUDENT-RUN MEDIA VEHICLES, INCLUDING: THE ITHACAN, THE COLLEGE'S OFFICIAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER; ITHACA COLLEGE TELEVISION; AND THE WICB RADIO STATION. THE SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS THE LOS ANGELES PROGRAM, AN INTERNSHIP-BASED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD WHILE TAKING INDUSTRY-RELATED COURSES AT THE JAMES B. PENDLETON CENTER, LOCATED MINUTES FROM BURBANK AND HOLLYWOOD. SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: ACCREDITED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ADVANCE COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS (AACSB), THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OFFERS A RIGOROUS PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, OFFERING A RANGE OF UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS, CONCENTRATIONS, AND MINORS, AS WELL AS GRADUATE LEVEL AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROFESSIONS PROGRAM, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO DEVELOP PROGRESSIVE SKILLS AND GAIN EXPERIENCES THAT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR COMPETITIVE INTERNSHIPS AND CAREERS. SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE, AND DANCE: TRACING ITS ROOTS TO THE COLLEGE'S FOUNDING IN 1892 AS A CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC PROVIDES STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES, FEATURES A VARIETY OF ENSEMBLES, AND PRESENTS HUNDREDS OF PERFORMANCES ANNUALLY. THE SCHOOL IS HOST TO SEVERAL SUMMER MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES TO MUSICIANS OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING THE SUMMER MUSIC ACADEMY AND THE SUMMER PIANO INSTITUTE, AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC. THE DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE ARTS DRAWS STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF THEATRE. SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SCIENCES (H&S): A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL OF H&S PREPARES STUDENTS FOR LIFE IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING, MULTICULTURAL, AND GLOBALLY INCLUSIVE WORLD. H&S STUDENTS RECEIVE A BROAD FOUNDATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES FACING THE HUMAN COMMUNITY. STUDENTS BUILD THEIR OWN INTEGRATIVE AND CROSS-DISCIPLINARY VERSION OF AN H&S EDUCATION. SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE (HSHP): THE SCHOOL OF HSHP'S STUDENTS TOUCH PEOPLE'S LIVES AS CLINICIANS, THERAPISTS, RESEARCHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SPORT PROFESSIONALS. HSHP STUDENTS CHOOSE FROM A ROBUST ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION TO ENGAGE IN INTERNSHIPS AND FIELDWORK, AND CAN HELP CLIENTS AT ONE OF FOUR ON-CAMPUS CLINICS. THE SCHOOL OFFERS A RANGE OF UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN AREAS OF EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE COLLEGE'S MANY STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES. THE COLLEGE OPERATES THE ITHACA COLLEGE LONDON CENTER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA AND IS AMONG THE LONGEST-STANDING STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS IN LONDON. THE COLLEGE PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH, AND CREATIVE PERFORMANCE WITH FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS. RESEARCH IS FUNDED SUBSTANTIALLY BY PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. FOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, IN JUNE 2025, ITHACA COLLEGE HOSTED THE SUMMER GAMES OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF NEW YORK, BRINGING TOGETHER HUNDREDS OF ATHLETICS FROM ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, THEIR COACHES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- $48.5 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES: AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES EXIST TO FURNISH GOODS OR SERVICES TO STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONAL DEPARTMENTS. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES ARE MANAGED TO OPERATE AS SELF-SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES. MAJOR AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES AT THE COLLEGE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: DINING SERVICES, WHICH OPERATES MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL DINING FACILITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS; THE CAMPUS STORE, WHICH PURVEYS TEXTBOOKS, APPAREL, SUPPLIES AND ACCESSORIES; AND CONFERENCE AND EVENT SERVICES, WHICH PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF MEETING AND EVENT SERVICES.
- $29.1 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: STUDENT SERVICES INCLUDES EXPENSES INCURRED FOR OFFICES OF ADMISSIONS AND THE REGISTRAR, STUDENT AID ADMINISTRATION, AND ACTIVITIES WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENTS' EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM. STUDENT SERVICES ALSO INCLUDES THE COLLEGE'S MULTITUDE OF ATHLETICS PROGRAMS. THE COLLEGE'S VARSITY TEAMS COMPETE AT THE DIVISION III LEVEL OF THE NCAA. THE COLLEGE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AND THE LIBERTY LEAGUE. INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS INCLUDE BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, CREW, CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING, FIELD HOCKEY, FOOTBALL, GOLF, GYMNASTICS, LACROSSE, SCULLING, SOCCER, SOFTBALL, SWIMMING & DIVING, TENNIS, TRACK & FIELD, VOLLEYBALL, AND WRESTLING. THE COLLEGE ALSO HAS A LARGE INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM, IN WHICH APPROXIMATELY 20% OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, AND WHICH OFFERS A VARIETY OF SPORTS INCLUDING SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, AND BASKETBALL, IN ADDITION TO SINGLE DAY EVENTS SUCH AS TENNIS TOURNAMENTS AND BATTLESHIP. THE COLLEGE IS ALSO HOME TO MORE THAN 60 CLUB SPORTS, MANY OF WHICH COMPETE REGULARLY AGAINST OTHER COLLEGES IN LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS. STUDENT SERVICES ALSO INCLUDES EXPENSES FOR THE OFFICE OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, WHICH PROVIDES THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE AND ORIENTATION, AND OVERSEES STUDENT ACTIVITIES, MULTICULTURAL EVENTS, AND STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE CENTER FOR CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, SERVING BOTH STUDENTS AND ALUMNI, PROVIDES CAREER-RELATED EDUCATION, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND POST-GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS AND ALUMNI.
- $21.4 million spent. ACADEMIC SUPPORT:ACADEMIC SUPPORT INCLUDES EXPENSES INCURRED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE'S PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE OF INSTRUCTION, RESEARCH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. IT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: THE RETENTION, PRESERVATION, AND DISPLAY OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AT THE ITHACA COLLEGE LIBRARY, THE HANDWERKER GALLERY, AND OTHER GALLERY SPACES; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPLOYED AT THE COLLEGE, PARTICULARLY SERVICES WITHIN THE THEMES OF CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT AND TEACHING & LEARNING; ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT DIRECTION TO THE PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE; AND SEPARATELY BUDGETED SUPPORT FOR COURSE AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1938.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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