Colby College vs. Purchase College

Should I go to Colby College or SUNY at Purchase College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College 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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Colby College vs. SUNY at Purchase College comparison
Colby College SUNY at Purchase College College 3 College 4
Colby College SUNY at Purchase College
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Overview

Colby College Purchase College
Location Waterville, ME Purchase, NY
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,299 3,182
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #319
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu purchase.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Purchase College
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $16,980
Room & Board $16,330 $14,948
Avg Net Price $16,951 $19,434
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $10,312
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 73%

Admission

Colby College Purchase College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 5,747
Admitted 1,286 4,292
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 74.7%
Enrolled % 52.3% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.37
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 29/31
SAT Range 1430/1540 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 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Colby College Purchase College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Colby College Purchase College
Graduation Rate 91% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $232

Diversity

Colby College Purchase College
% Men 48% 42%
% Women 52% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 55%
% Black 3% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 11% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 7%

Students

Colby College Purchase College
% In-State 7% 85%
% Out-of-State 79% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • SUNY at Purchase College is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (3,182 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Purchase College?

  • Colby College is 760.5% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 258.3% higher at Colby College than SUNY at Purchase College ($60,840.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Purchase College ($16,951 vs. $19,434)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 9.2% lower than costs at Colby College ($14,948 vs. $16,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than Colby College (73% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 498.5% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($61,714 vs. $10,312)

Colby College vs. Purchase College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 281 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Purchase College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College 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 Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (91% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $33,200 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $40,200)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $3,155 lower median federal student loan debt than Purchase College graduates. ($19,345 vs. $22,500)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Purchase College graduates. ($200 vs. $232)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 65%)

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