Purchase College vs. Pitt

Should I go to SUNY at Purchase College or University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purchase College or Pitt 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.
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SUNY at Purchase College vs. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus comparison
SUNY at Purchase College University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus College 3 College 4
SUNY at Purchase College University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
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Overview

 Purchase College Pitt
Location Purchase, NY Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 3,229 34,525
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #297 #131
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purchase.edu pitt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Purchase College Pitt
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $20,154
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $38,520
Room & Board $15,400 $13,420
Avg Net Price $18,651 $24,338
Avg Grant Aid $9,627 $10,551
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 82%

Admission

 Purchase College Pitt
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,221 58,416
Admitted 5,259 29,034
Acceptance Rate 72.8% 49.7%
Enrolled % 14.8% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.79
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 27/32 29/33
SAT Range 1178/1363 1270/1450
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 Pitt
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Engineering (9%)

Outcomes

 Purchase College Pitt
Graduation Rate 56% 79%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $58,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $26,909
Median Loan Payment $232 $278

Diversity

 Purchase College Pitt
% Men 1% 11%
% Women 1% 16%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 74%
% Black 10% 5%
% Hispanic 18% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

 Purchase College Pitt
% In-State 78% 56%
% Out-of-State 21% 38%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (34,525 students vs. 3,229 students)

Purchase College vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Pitt?

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 185.1% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($20,154.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 126.9% higher at Pitt than SUNY at Purchase College ($38,520.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Pitt ($18,651 vs. $24,338)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 14.8% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($13,420 vs. $15,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than SUNY at Purchase College (82% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 9.6% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($10,551 vs. $9,627)

Purchase College vs. Pitt Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1272) is 190 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Purchase College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (72.8%) than Pitt (49.7%)

Purchase College vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Purchase College or Pitt? 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 Pitt and Purchase College.

  • The graduation rate at Pitt is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (79% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn on average $17,800 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $40,200)
  • SUNY at Purchase College students graduate with a $4,409 lower median federal student loan debt than Pitt graduates. ($22,500 vs. $26,909)
  • Purchase College graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than Pitt graduates. ($232 vs. $278)
  • More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 65%)

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