AU vs. Purchase College

Should I go to American University or SUNY at Purchase College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Purchase College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. SUNY at Purchase College comparison
American University SUNY at Purchase College College 3 College 4
American University SUNY at Purchase College
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Overview

AU Purchase College
Location Washington, DC Purchase, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 3,182
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #319
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu purchase.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Purchase College
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $16,980
Room & Board $15,706 $14,948
Avg Net Price $41,369 $19,434
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $10,312
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 73%

Admission

AU Purchase College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 5,747
Admitted 7,926 4,292
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 74.7%
Enrolled % 22.2% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.37
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 29/31
SAT Range 1290/1430 1190/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

AU Purchase College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

AU Purchase College
Graduation Rate 77% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $232

Diversity

AU Purchase College
% Men 37% 42%
% Women 63% 58%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 55%
% Black 7% 10%
% Hispanic 12% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

AU Purchase College
% In-State 2% 85%
% Out-of-State 94% 14%

Campus

AU Purchase College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,182 students)

AU vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Purchase College?

  • American University is 650.6% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 212.5% higher at AU than SUNY at Purchase College ($53,070.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than AU ($19,434 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 5.1% lower than costs at American University ($14,948 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than American University (73% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 163.2% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($27,138 vs. $10,312)

AU vs. Purchase College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Purchase College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purchase College or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 170 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Purchase College (25)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Purchase College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purchase College and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (77% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $24,600 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $40,200)
  • SUNY at Purchase College students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Purchase College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($232 vs. $250)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/