BU vs. Purchase College

Deciding between Boston University 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.

Boston University
SUNY at Purchase College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Purchase College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Purchase College 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Purchase College $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Purchase College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Purchase College 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 BU ($18,211 vs. $24,420).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 13.6% lower than at Boston University ($16,436 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 660.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $59,149 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 254.6% higher at BU than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $48,899 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Boston University (72% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 492.9% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($61,848 vs. $10,432).

BU vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 200 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
  • Incoming BU 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: Boston University 1420/1530; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Purchase College (3.37).
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

BU vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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).

  • Boston University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $31,800 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY at Purchase College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purchase College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($232 vs. $279).
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.