Barnard vs. Purchase College

Deciding between Barnard College and SUNY at Purchase College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Barnard College
SUNY at Purchase College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Purchase College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Purchase College $232
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Purchase College 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Purchase College 19%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Barnard Yes
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Barnard No
  • Purchase College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Barnard Yes
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Barnard No
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Barnard No
  • Purchase College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Barnard vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard or Purchase College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Barnard ($18,211 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 24.3% lower than at Barnard College ($16,436 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 680.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $60,935 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 263.9% higher at Barnard than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $50,685 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Barnard College (72% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 505.2% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($63,131 vs. $10,432).

Barnard vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard or Purchase College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purchase College and Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 240 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Purchase College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Purchase College (3.37).
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Barnard vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard and Purchase College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $26,700 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $4,653 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($17,847 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($184 vs. $232).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.