Purchase College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY at Purchase College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (3,333 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY at Purchase College is located in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY at Purchase College 12:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Purchase College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than Purchase College ($16,621 vs. $18,211).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 7.1% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($15,274 vs. $16,436).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is 59.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $5,327 more per year; $14,280.00 vs. $8,953.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25% higher at Penn State Wilkes-Barre than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $4,803 more per year; $24,006.00 vs. $19,203.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at SUNY at Purchase College (89% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 7.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($10,432 vs. $9,742).

Purchase College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• 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 Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Purchase College (74%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Purchase College vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Purchase College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Purchase College and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre graduates ($232 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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.