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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse Drexel| SUNY at Purchase College | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
| Location | Purchase, NY | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,229 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #297 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | purchase.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,070 | $19,672 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $16,980 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,400 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,651 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,627 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 36% |
Admission |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,221 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 5,259 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72.8% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.8% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1178/1363 | 1220/1400 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,200 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $277 |
Diversity |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 18% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 2% |
Students |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Purchase College | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 3,229 students)
Purchase College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 178.2% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($19,672.00 vs. $7,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 133.4% higher at Penn State than SUNY at Purchase College ($39,626.00 vs. $16,980.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Penn State ($18,651 vs. $27,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 18.2% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($13,030 vs. $15,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than Penn State Main Campus (72% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 20.3% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($11,577 vs. $9,627)
Purchase College vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Purchase College or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Purchase College .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 120 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Purchase College (25)
- Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (72.8%) than Penn State (54.2%)
Purchase College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Purchase College or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Purchase College.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (87% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $15,100 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $40,200)
- SUNY at Purchase College students graduate with a $4,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,818)
- Purchase College graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($232 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/