Purchase College vs. UVA

Should I go to SUNY at Purchase College or University of Virginia Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Purchase College or UVA 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

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

William & Mary UNC Chapel Hill JMU Virginia Tech Michigan University of Richmond Georgetown Washington and Lee UCLA Mason UT Austin Maryland
SUNY at Purchase College vs. University of Virginia Main Campus comparison
SUNY at Purchase College University of Virginia Main Campus College 3 College 4
SUNY at Purchase College University of Virginia Main Campus
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Purchase College UVA
Location Purchase, NY Charlottesville, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 3,182 26,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #319 #59
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website purchase.edu virginia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Purchase College UVA
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $16,980
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $51,870
Room & Board $14,948 $12,890
Avg Net Price $19,434 $19,469
Avg Grant Aid $10,312 $26,818
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 34%

Admission

 Purchase College UVA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,747 50,926
Admitted 4,292 9,503
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 18.7%
Enrolled % 16% 42.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.85
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Elite
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/31 32/34
SAT Range 1190/1350 1400/1540
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 UVA
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 Purchase College UVA
Graduation Rate 56% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $201

Diversity

 Purchase College UVA
% Men 42% 45%
% Women 58% 55%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 60%
% Black 10% 6%
% Hispanic 18% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 7% 6%

Students

 Purchase College UVA
% In-State 85% 62%
% Out-of-State 14% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (26,082 students vs. 3,182 students)

Purchase College vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or UVA?

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 140.2% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($16,980.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 205.5% higher at UVA than SUNY at Purchase College ($51,870.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than UVA ($19,434 vs. $19,469)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 16% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($12,890 vs. $14,948)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than University of Virginia Main Campus (73% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 160.1% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($26,818 vs. $10,312)

Purchase College vs. UVA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Virginia Main Campus (1364) is 282 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
  • Incoming UVA students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Purchase College (25)
  • Accepted freshman UVA students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than UVA (18.7%)

Purchase College vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UVA is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (94% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn on average $37,000 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $40,200)
  • University of Virginia Main Campus students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Purchase College graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,500)
  • UVA graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Purchase College graduates. ($201 vs. $232)
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 65%)

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