Purchase College vs. Penn State

Deciding between SUNY at Purchase College and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

SUNY at Purchase College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Purchase College #351
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Purchase College -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Purchase College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Purchase College 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Purchase College B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Purchase College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Purchase College $232
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Purchase College 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Purchase College High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Purchase College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Purchase College 55%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Purchase College 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Purchase College 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Purchase College 18%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Purchase College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Purchase College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Purchase College 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Purchase College 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Purchase College 7%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Purchase College 79%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Purchase College 19%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • SUNY at Purchase College is located in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY at Purchase College 12:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Purchase College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($18,211 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11.9% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($14,474 vs. $16,436).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 130.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $11,691 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 117.6% higher at Penn State than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $22,587 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Penn State Main Campus (72% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 8.7% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($11,336 vs. $10,432).

Purchase College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Purchase College or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Purchase College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 50 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Purchase College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 27/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Purchase College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Purchase College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Purchase College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Purchase College and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY at Purchase College graduates have a $4,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($22,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Purchase College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.