Harvard vs. Purchase College

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
SUNY at Purchase College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Purchase College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Purchase College 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Purchase College $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Purchase College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Purchase College 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard 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: Harvard University 7:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Harvard vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Purchase College ($17,525 vs. $18,211).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 22.4% lower than at Harvard University ($16,436 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 588.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $52,723 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 221.2% higher at Harvard than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $42,473 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Harvard University (72% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 552% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($68,015 vs. $10,432).

Harvard vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 270 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 28 at Purchase College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.63 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Purchase College (3.37).
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Harvard vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $96,500 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $16,000 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($6,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $165 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($67 vs. $232).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.