Purchase College vs. Penn State Brandywine

Deciding between SUNY at Purchase College and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Penn State Brandywine Media, PA
  • Setting
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Penn State Brandywine Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Penn State Brandywine 1,236
  • Type
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Brandywine Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Purchase College #351
  • Penn State Brandywine #821
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Purchase College -
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • Status
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Penn State Brandywine Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Purchase College
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Penn State Brandywine $15,208
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Penn State Brandywine $25,392
  • Room & Board
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Penn State Brandywine $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Penn State Brandywine $22,710
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • Penn State Brandywine $9,113
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Penn State Brandywine 73%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Penn State Brandywine 2,431
  • Admitted
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Penn State Brandywine 2,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Penn State Brandywine 98.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Penn State Brandywine 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Penn State Brandywine 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Purchase College 28
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Average High School GPA
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Purchase College B+
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Penn State Brandywine Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Purchase College Low
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • ACT Range
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • SAT Range
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Penn State Brandywine Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Penn State Brandywine 15:1
  • 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 Brandywine
    • Business (28%)
    • Work and Family Studies (28%)
    • Communication (23%)
    • Ethnic Studies (6%)
    • Education (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Penn State Brandywine 37%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Penn State Brandywine $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Penn State Brandywine 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Penn State Brandywine $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Purchase College $232
  • Penn State Brandywine $277
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Purchase College 42%
  • Penn State Brandywine 63%
  • % Women
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Penn State Brandywine 37%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Purchase College High
  • Penn State Brandywine Medium
  • HBCU
  • Purchase College No
  • Penn State Brandywine No
  • % White
  • Purchase College 55%
  • Penn State Brandywine 63%
  • % Asian
  • Purchase College 4%
  • Penn State Brandywine 11%
  • % Black
  • Purchase College 10%
  • Penn State Brandywine 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • Purchase College 18%
  • Penn State Brandywine 5%
  • % Native American
  • Purchase College 0%
  • Penn State Brandywine 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Purchase College 0%
  • Penn State Brandywine 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Purchase College 5%
  • Penn State Brandywine 2%
  • % International
  • Purchase College 2%
  • Penn State Brandywine 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Purchase College 7%
  • Penn State Brandywine 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Purchase College 79%
  • Penn State Brandywine 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Purchase College 19%
  • Penn State Brandywine 19%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY at Purchase College is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (3,333 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • SUNY at Purchase College is located in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY at Purchase College 12:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Purchase College vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine ($18,211 vs. $22,710).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 11.9% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($14,474 vs. $16,436).
  • Penn State Brandywine is 69.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $6,255 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.2% higher at Penn State Brandywine than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $6,189 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Brandywine than at SUNY at Purchase College (73% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 14.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($10,432 vs. $9,113).

Purchase College vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 80 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Purchase College - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Purchase College (74%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Purchase College vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Purchase College vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • SUNY at Purchase College's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates ($232 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State Brandywine 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.