Rutgers vs. Purchase College

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

Rutgers Purchase College
Location New Brunswick, NJ Purchase, NY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 50,637 3,182
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #112 #319
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu purchase.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rutgers Purchase College
Tuition (In State) $12,900 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $30,600 $16,980
Room & Board $13,909 $14,948
Avg Net Price $17,535 $19,434
Avg Grant Aid $12,785 $10,312
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 73%

Admission

Rutgers Purchase College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,654 5,747
Admitted 27,612 4,292
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 74.7%
Enrolled % 28.2% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 29/31
SAT Range 1270/1480 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

Rutgers Purchase College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Rutgers Purchase College
Graduation Rate 77% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $229 $232

Diversity

Rutgers Purchase College
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 55%
% Black 7% 10%
% Hispanic 13% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Rutgers Purchase College
% In-State 85% 85%
% Out-of-State 8% 14%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (50,637 students vs. 3,182 students)

Rutgers vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Purchase College?

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 82.5% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($12,900.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.2% higher at Rutgers than SUNY at Purchase College ($30,600.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Purchase College ($17,535 vs. $19,434)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 7.5% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($13,909 vs. $14,948)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than Rutgers University New Brunswick (73% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 24% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($12,785 vs. $10,312)

Rutgers vs. Purchase College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1225) is 143 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Accepted freshman Purchase College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Rutgers (66.3%)

Rutgers vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Rutgers is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (77% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $26,000 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $40,200)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $285 lower median federal student loan debt than Purchase College graduates. ($22,215 vs. $22,500)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Purchase College graduates. ($229 vs. $232)
  • More Rutgers graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 65%)

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