Purchase College vs. Mary Washington College

Should I go to SUNY at Purchase College or University of Mary Washington? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purchase College or Mary Washington College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
SUNY at Purchase College vs. University of Mary Washington comparison
SUNY at Purchase College University of Mary Washington College 3 College 4
SUNY at Purchase College University of Mary Washington
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Purchase College Mary Washington College
Location Purchase, NY Fredericksburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small Suburban
Enrollment 3,182 3,757
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #319 #283
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purchase.edu umw.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Purchase College Mary Washington College
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $8,938
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $25,858
Room & Board $14,948 $12,090
Avg Net Price $19,434 $21,863
Avg Grant Aid $10,312 $9,046
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 93%

Admission

Purchase College Mary Washington College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,747 4,709
Admitted 4,292 4,040
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 85.8%
Enrolled % 16% 18.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 29/31 25/30
SAT Range 1190/1350 1170/1340
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, 2025

Academics

Purchase College Mary Washington College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (12%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Purchase College Mary Washington College
Graduation Rate 56% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $55,500
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $222

Diversity

Purchase College Mary Washington College
% Men 42% 37%
% Women 58% 63%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 70%
% Black 10% 6%
% Hispanic 18% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 7% 6%

Students

Purchase College Mary Washington College
% In-State 85% 87%
% Out-of-State 14% 10%

Campus

Purchase College Mary Washington College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Mary Washington is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (3,757 students vs. 3,182 students)

Purchase College vs. Mary Washington College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Mary Washington College?

  • University of Mary Washington is 26.4% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($8,938.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.3% higher at Mary Washington College than SUNY at Purchase College ($25,858.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Mary Washington College ($19,434 vs. $21,863)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Mary Washington are 23.6% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($12,090 vs. $14,948)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Mary Washington than SUNY at Purchase College (93% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 14% larger than aid received University of Mary Washington ($10,312 vs. $9,046)

Purchase College vs. Mary Washington College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Purchase College or Mary Washington College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mary Washington College or Purchase College .

  • The average SAT score at University of Mary Washington (1110) is 28 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming Purchase College students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Mary Washington College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mary Washington College students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Mary Washington College has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than Purchase College (74.7%)

Purchase College vs. Mary Washington College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purchase College or Mary Washington College? 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 Mary Washington College and Purchase College.

  • The graduation rate at Mary Washington College is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (71% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of Mary Washington earn on average $15,300 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($55,500 vs. $40,200)
  • University of Mary Washington students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Purchase College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,500)
  • Mary Washington College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Purchase College graduates. ($222 vs. $232)
  • More Mary Washington College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/