Rider University vs. Purchase College

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

Rider University Purchase College
Location Lawrenceville, NJ Purchase, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,054 3,182
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #263 #319
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rider.edu purchase.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rider University Purchase College
Tuition (In State) $36,000 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $36,000 $16,980
Room & Board $16,130 $14,948
Avg Net Price $26,388 $19,434
Avg Grant Aid $26,336 $10,312
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 73%

Admission

Rider University Purchase College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,340 5,747
Admitted 7,858 4,292
Acceptance Rate 84.1% 74.7%
Enrolled % 9.9% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/29 29/31
SAT Range 1100/1300 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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Rider University Purchase College
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Education (15%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Rider University Purchase College
Graduation Rate 63% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,000 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $266 $232

Diversity

Rider University Purchase College
% Men 41% 42%
% Women 59% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 55%
% Black 12% 10%
% Hispanic 12% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Rider University Purchase College
% In-State 74% 85%
% Out-of-State 23% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rider University is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (4,054 students vs. 3,182 students)

Rider University vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rider University or Purchase College?

  • Rider University is 409.2% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($36,000.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 112% higher at Rider University than SUNY at Purchase College ($36,000.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Rider University ($19,434 vs. $26,388)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 7.9% lower than costs at Rider University ($14,948 vs. $16,130)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rider University than SUNY at Purchase College (99% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 155.4% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($26,336 vs. $10,312)

Rider University vs. Purchase College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at SUNY at Purchase College (1082) is 68 points higher than at Rider University (1014)
  • Incoming Purchase College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Rider University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Rider University students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Rider University has a higher acceptance rate (84.1%) than Purchase College (74.7%)

Rider University vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rider University 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 Rider University.

  • The graduation rate at Rider University is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (63% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Rider University earn on average $12,800 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($53,000 vs. $40,200)
  • SUNY at Purchase College students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Rider University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,750)
  • Purchase College graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Rider University graduates. ($232 vs. $266)
  • More Rider University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 65%)

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