Purchase College vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between SUNY at Purchase College and Western Washington University? 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
Western Washington University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Purchase College #351
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Purchase College -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Purchase College
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • Purchase College 28
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Purchase College B+
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Purchase College Low
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Western Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Purchase College $232
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Purchase College 42%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Purchase College High
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • Purchase College No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • Purchase College 55%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • Purchase College 4%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • Purchase College 10%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Purchase College 18%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • Purchase College 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Purchase College 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Purchase College 5%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • Purchase College 2%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Purchase College 7%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Purchase College 79%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Purchase College 19%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY with Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Washington University is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (14,710 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • SUNY at Purchase College is located in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY at Purchase College 12:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

Purchase College vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University ($18,211 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Washington University are 4.2% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($15,747 vs. $16,436).
  • Western Washington University is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $629 more per year; $9,582.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.5% higher at Western Washington University than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $9,504 more per year; $28,707.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at SUNY at Purchase College (93% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 51.1% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($10,432 vs. $6,902).

Purchase College vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Purchase College or Western Washington University? 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 Western Washington University and Purchase College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 10 points higher than at Western Washington University (1270).
  • Incoming Purchase College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Western Washington University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380; Western Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY at Purchase College 27/30; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Purchase College - Test optional; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purchase College Jul 1, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Purchase College (3.37).
  • Western Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.2%) than Purchase College (74%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Purchase College vs. 22.9% at Western Washington University.

Purchase College vs. Western Washington University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Purchase College and Western Washington University? 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).

  • Western Washington University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Western Washington University earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have a $3,087 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($19,413 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Western Washington University graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($200 vs. $232).
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.