City College of New York vs. Purchase College

Deciding between CUNY City 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.

CUNY City College
SUNY at Purchase College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • Purchase College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • Purchase College 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • Purchase College $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Purchase College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • Purchase College 19%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • City College of New York No
  • Purchase College No
  • Meal Plan
  • City College of New York No
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • City College of New York No
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • City College of New York Yes
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Learn More
  • City College of New York Details
  • Purchase College Details

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City 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.

CUNY City College is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

City College of New York vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York 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 CUNY City College than Purchase College ($4,664 vs. $18,211).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 12.8% lower than at CUNY City College ($16,436 vs. $18,840).
  • SUNY at Purchase College is 22% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $1,613 more per year; $8,953.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.6% higher at Purchase College than at CUNY City College (about $3,913 more per year; $19,203.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at SUNY at Purchase College (88% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($10,432 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York 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 City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 30 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purchase College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than City College of New York (60%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

City College of New York vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York 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).

  • SUNY at Purchase College's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from CUNY City College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,800 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $11,100 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($11,400 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($117 vs. $232).
  • More Purchase College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 52%)

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.