Our Mission is to provide a foundation for a lifetime of learning, Ithaca College is dedicated to fostering intellectual growth, aesthetic appreciation, and character development in our students. The Ithaca College community thrives on the principles that knowledge is acquired through discipline, competence is established when knowledge is tempered by experience, and character is developed when competence is exercised for the benefit of others.

From the very day of our founding as a music conservatory in 1892, providing a personal, quality education for our students has been our goal at Ithaca College. While we have since grown into a comprehensive college offering a wide array of academic programs, we have not lost sight of our history and our beginnings.

At Ithaca College you will find the perfect blend of liberal arts education and professional preparation. Our challenging academic programs promote critical thinking and hands-on learning, and our students work closely with experienced and accomplished faculty. Located in one of America's top college towns, Ithaca College boasts a lively and sophisticated residential community that takes full advantage of its stunning backdrop--blue lake, waterfalls, and gorges--and a local community rich in culture and resources.

Welcome to Ithaca, nestled in the heart of New York State's beautiful Finger Lakes region. Located roughly halfway between Manhattan and Toronto, this thriving, culturally diverse city of 30,000 combines small-town warmth and charm with cosmopolitan flair. Home to Ithaca College and Cornell University, the Ithaca area attracts visitors, students, and scholars from around the globe.

Whether you're looking for natural beauty or urban sophistication, Ithaca has it all. Rolling hills, breathtaking gorges, and splendid lakes offer countless outdoor activities. Fantastic restaurants, exciting nightlife, vibrant theater, mainstream and independent cinema, and live music abound. You can visit central New York's award-winning wineries, swim beneath towering waterfalls, ski and skate throughout the winter, take in the museums and galleries, or just stroll and shop along the downtown Commons.

No matter what your interests, Ithaca has something special for you.