SUNY at Purchase College
#9 Best Colleges for Visual- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,092 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $18,913 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 74% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.3 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Colleges for Visual.
Every $1 spent returns $20.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,456,741.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why SUNY at Purchase College Matters
SUNY at Purchase College is a public liberal arts college in Purchase, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 3,197
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Communications, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose SUNY at Purchase College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 74% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1185–1380. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,913 a year after grants and scholarships — 10% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,092 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $21,067 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 33% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.80 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just under 3,200 students, SUNY at Purchase College is a great fit for those who are passionate about the arts and humanities. The standout programs here include Visual and Performing Arts, Communications, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Humanities. This school attracts students who thrive in a creative environment, where they can explore their interests deeply while also preparing for a diverse set of career paths.
Graduates from Purchase College see a median earning of around $45,092 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure indicates a solid return on investment, especially considering the affordable net price of $18,913 after financial aid. About 36% of students receive Pell Grants, which can significantly ease the financial burden for lower-income families. While we don't have data on mobility rates, the earnings potential suggests that many graduates are able to secure stable and meaningful employment after they leave.
In terms of financial considerations, the median debt for graduates stands at $21,067, which is manageable when compared to the earnings. Students who tend to thrive here are those who are self-motivated and comfortable in a collaborative, artistic atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place that balances affordability with a focus on the arts and social sciences, SUNY at Purchase College might just be the right choice for you.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective SUNY at Purchase College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into SUNY at Purchase College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Purchase, New York, SUNY at Purchase College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,312. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- SAT Average
- 1312
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1185–1380
- ACT Range
- 27–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,079
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 5,747
- Admitted
- 4,292
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend SUNY at Purchase College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SUNY at Purchase College is $19,203, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,913. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,835 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,067 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,953
- Out-of-State
- $19,203
- Avg Net Price
- $18,913
- Median Debt
- $21,067
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,835
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,230
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,658
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,428
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at SUNY at Purchase College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is SUNY at Purchase College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SUNY at Purchase College earn a median of $45,092, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,229
- 8 Years
- $40,518
- 10 Years
- $45,092
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 52%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (397)
- 53%
- 100% (397)
- 53%
- 100% (397)
- 53%
- 100% (397)
- 53%
How SUNY Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is SUNY at Purchase College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, SUNY at Purchase College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,913/year ($75,652 total). Graduates earn $45,092 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,532,393 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,456,741 (20.3× your investment). The median debt is $21,067, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $75,652
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,532,393
- Net Return
- $1,456,741
- ROI Multiple
- 20.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,913
- Median Debt
- $21,067
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does SUNY at Purchase College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
SUNY at Purchase College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.84%, well above the typical college. About 7.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 24.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $103,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.84%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 24.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $140,077
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,996,642
- Investment Income
- $213,234
Top Programs
The fields SUNY at Purchase College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 53% $45,495 early-career
- Communications 12% $36,008 early-career
- Psychology 8% $35,702 early-career
- Social Sciences 7% $33,637 early-career
- Humanities 5% $25,230 early-career
- English & Literature 3% $25,230 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 3% $28,152 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 2% $57,082 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for SUNY at Purchase College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into SUNY at Purchase College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Purchase, New York, SUNY at Purchase College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,312. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend SUNY at Purchase College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SUNY at Purchase College is $19,203, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,913. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,835 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,067 in federal student loans.
Is SUNY at Purchase College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SUNY at Purchase College earn a median of $45,092, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does SUNY at Purchase College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
SUNY at Purchase College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.84%, well above the typical college. About 7.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 24.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $103,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is SUNY at Purchase College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at SUNY at Purchase College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does SUNY at Purchase College offer Early Decision?
No. SUNY at Purchase College does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to SUNY at Purchase College.
- Lee UniversityCleveland, TN · Close peer62% grad $43,222 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Husson UniversityBangor, ME · Close peer58% grad $45,025 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC · Close peer59% grad $47,185 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead, MN · Close peer56% grad $50,527 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KY · Close peer44% grad $41,583 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAlfred, NY · Close peer54% grad $50,445 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is SUNY at Purchase College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at SUNY at Purchase College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note