Ithaca College vs. Purchase College

Deciding between Ithaca 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.

Ithaca College
SUNY at Purchase College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Ithaca College Small Suburban
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Ithaca College 4,767
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Ithaca College Private 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Ithaca College #163
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Ithaca College -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • Ithaca College Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Ithaca College
  • Purchase College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Ithaca College $53,540
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • Ithaca College $16,192
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • Ithaca College $35,253
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College $33,450
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Ithaca College 100%
  • Purchase College 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Ithaca College 12,400
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Ithaca College 8,557
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Ithaca College 69%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • Ithaca College 12.3%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Ithaca College 1310
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Ithaca College 28
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Ithaca College -
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Ithaca College -
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Ithaca College Difficult
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Ithaca College 27/30
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Ithaca College 1230/1390
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Ithaca College Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Ithaca College 10:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Ithaca College
    • Communication (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (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
  • Ithaca College 74%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Ithaca College $56,100
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Ithaca College 84%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Ithaca College $25,750
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Ithaca College $266
  • Purchase College $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • Ithaca College 57%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Ithaca College Low
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • Ithaca College No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • Ithaca College 71%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Ithaca College 4%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • Ithaca College 6%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Ithaca College 8%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Ithaca College 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Ithaca College 3%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • Ithaca College 2%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Ithaca College 7%
  • Purchase College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Ithaca College 43%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Ithaca College 55%
  • Purchase College 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Ithaca College is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (4,767 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY (Small Suburban setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Ithaca 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: Ithaca College 10:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Ithaca College vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ithaca College 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 Ithaca College ($18,211 vs. $35,253).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ithaca College are 1.5% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($16,192 vs. $16,436).
  • Ithaca College is 498% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $44,587 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 178.8% higher at Ithaca College than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $34,337 more per year; $53,540.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ithaca College than at SUNY at Purchase College (100% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ithaca College students is 220.6% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($33,450 vs. $10,432).

Ithaca College vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ithaca College 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 Ithaca College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ithaca College (1310) is 30 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
  • Incoming Ithaca College students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Purchase College (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 1230/1390; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ithaca College 27/30; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ithaca College - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Ithaca College Feb 1, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Ithaca College (69%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at Ithaca College vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Ithaca College vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ithaca College 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).

  • Ithaca College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Ithaca College earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY at Purchase College graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Ithaca College graduates ($22,500 vs. $25,750).
  • Among borrowers, Purchase College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ithaca College graduates ($232 vs. $266).
  • More Ithaca College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.