St. Mary's vs. Purchase College

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY at Purchase College is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (3,333 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

St. Mary's vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's ($18,211 vs. $21,071).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Mary's College of Maryland are 2.2% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($16,079 vs. $16,436).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is 70.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $6,345 more per year; $15,298.00 vs. $8,953.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.4% higher at St. Mary's than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $12,171 more per year; $31,374.00 vs. $19,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at SUNY at Purchase College (98% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 9.3% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($11,398 vs. $10,432).

St. Mary's vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 40 points higher than at St. Mary's (1240).
• Incoming St. Mary's 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: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Purchase College (3.37).
• Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

St. Mary's vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $2,130 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($20,370 vs. $22,500).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($210 vs. $232).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.