How to apply for art at Ithaca College: the Art B.A. and B.F.A. with an optional portfolio and interview, a year-long B.F.A. thesis exhibited at the Handwerker Gallery, and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfer students

Ithaca College, in Ithaca, New York, teaches art in the Department of Art, Art History, and Architecture in the School of Humanities and Sciences, which offers an Art B.A. and an Art B.F.A. This guide uses the college’s website and is for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and studio areas

• Studio areas: the program page lists drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design and digital art, taught in small studio classes.
• B.A. or B.F.A. (as described on the program page): the B.A. gives a foundation in art and art history with room for the liberal arts, minors or a double major; the B.F.A. is a deeper dive in which students create a year-long thesis body of work exhibited at the Handwerker Gallery, aimed at students considering a career as an artist, graduate school or residencies, grants and exhibitions.
• B.F.A. curriculum (2026-2027 catalog): 120 credits, of which 69 are the major and 51 the Integrative Core Curriculum and electives, with at least 30 liberal arts credits. The major includes the Theory and Practice of Art sequence (with a senior project), Two-Dimensional Design and one 100-level course each in drawing, painting, sculpture and print media; 8 intermediate and 8 advanced credits, each across at least two media (drawing, graphic design, painting, sculpture, print media, digital studio); another 8 credits at the 200 or 300 level; and three art history courses.
• B.A. curriculum (2026-2027 catalog): 120 credits, of which 49 are the major, with at least 90 liberal arts credits.
• Minors and more: the department also offers an Art Minor and a Graphic Design Minor. For art teaching, the program page suggests the Teach in 5 program (a bachelor’s plus an M.A.T. certified in K-12 art education). The same department offers an Architectural Studies B.A., not covered here.

2. Portfolio and interview

• Optional: the program-specific information page says applicants to the Art Department are not required to submit a portfolio but may do so; a faculty member reviews it and forwards a recommendation to the Office of Admission. The program page also says a personal interview with the department and a portfolio are optional.
• How to send: email a link or documents to art@ithaca.edu, or mail materials to the Department of Art, Ceracche Building, Ithaca College, 953 Danby Rd., Ithaca NY 14850, with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want them returned.
• Number of pieces, format and deadline are not stated; ask the department.

3. Deadlines and application materials

• How to apply: Common App or Coalition with Scoir.
• Deadlines (deadlines page, no year stated): Early Decision (binding) November 1; Early Action December 1; Regular Decision (first-year) February 1; spring admission November 1 for priority consideration. The Presidential Scholarship is due November 1 and the Scholar Programs (Innovation, Leadership, MLK, Park) December 1; you apply for these in the IC Connect portal after applying.
• Tests and recommendations: SAT/ACT optional in most cases; recommendations optional. A USD 500 nonrefundable deposit, credited to the first bill, confirms enrollment.

4. International documents and English

• Application fee: waived for international students (choose Institutional Fee Waiver in the Common App).
• Financial aid form: after submitting the Common App, complete the college’s aid application in IC Connect or opt out on its first question; otherwise the application is incomplete.
• Transcripts: official records for all secondary years and leaving exam results, with certified English translations alongside the originals.
• English: recommended minimums TOEFL 80 (new scale 4.0), IELTS 6.0, PTE 54, Duolingo 115 or SAT ERW 600; waived if your school taught mainly in English and you passed three years of English there.

5. Students at high schools in China

• How the Gaokao or art exams are used is not published; ask the Office of Admission (admission@ithaca.edu).
• AP art credit (external credit page): AP 2D Art and Design 3 = ART 18888 (4 credits), 4–5 = ART 12000 Two-Dimensional Design; AP Drawing 3 = ART 18888, 4–5 = ART 11000; AP 3D Art and Design 3–5 = ART 18888. Departments decide whether AP credit counts toward the major.
• IB: Visual Arts HL 4–7 = ART 18888 (3 credits); HL only.
• A-Level: assessed case by case by the Registrar and departments; no credit for AS exams.

6. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• Students without U.S. citizenship apply as international students (except U.S. dual citizens, permanent residents and U.S. citizens living abroad).
• English: no country list is published; the waiver for English-medium schools with three years of English applies. Students at French-language schools in Quebec should prepare English scores or ask Admission.
• BC grade requirements are not published; ask Admission.

7. Transfer students

• Eligibility and deadlines: apply as a transfer if you have earned more than 9 college credits after high school; fall Regular Decision is March 1 and spring priority is November 1.
• Credit: courses from accredited institutions with C- or better generally transfer, each reviewed individually; transfer students meet the same program requirements as other students.
• Portfolio: the optional portfolio rule applies (the program-specific page does not distinguish first-year and transfer applicants).
• Scholarship: full-time Phi Theta Kappa transfers with a 3.5 cumulative GPA receive USD 2,000 a year.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026–27 estimate: tuition USD 59,440, housing and meals USD 16,520, books USD 850, personal USD 1,100, transportation USD 550, student support and technology fee USD 300, health insurance USD 4,260 (waivable), total USD 83,020. Art course material fees were not on the pages we read.
• International aid: international undergraduates can receive college scholarships, grants and on-campus work, using only the aid application in IC Connect.
• Ithaca College Scholarship: all new students are reviewed automatically on academics or talent, not need; amounts are not published.
• Presidential Scholarship: full tuition and fees each year; separate application due November 1.

Checklist

Students in China:

• Apply through the Common App with the fee waiver and complete the aid form in IC Connect; apply by November 1 for the Presidential Scholarship
• Portfolio optional: email strong work to art@ithaca.edu for faculty review
• Ask Admission how the Gaokao is used; aim for TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 115

Students in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply as an international student; ask about English waivers and how BC grades are reviewed

Transfer students:

• Apply by March 1 for fall; ask the department which foundation courses your art credits cover

Sources: Ithaca College, Art (B.A., B.F.A.); 2026-2027 catalog: Art B.F.A.; 2026-2027 catalog: Art B.A.; Program-specific information; Application deadlines; Test optional; International applicants; Aid for international students; Scholarships for new students; 2026–27 undergraduate tuition; Transfer students; Credit from external sources. The deadlines page does not state a year; costs are for 2026–27. Check Ithaca College’s website for the latest.