University of Southern Maine vs. Purchase College

Should I go to University of Southern Maine or SUNY at Purchase College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Southern Maine or Purchase 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.

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University of Southern Maine vs. SUNY at Purchase College comparison
University of Southern Maine SUNY at Purchase College College 3 College 4
University of Southern Maine SUNY at Purchase College
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Overview

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
Location Portland, ME Purchase, NY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,528 3,229
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #685 #297
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website maine.edu purchase.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
Tuition (In State) $8,316 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $24,500 $16,980
Room & Board $11,650 $15,400
Avg Net Price $12,006 $18,651
Avg Grant Aid $10,158 $9,627
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 72%

Admission

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,823 7,221
Admitted 4,618 5,259
Acceptance Rate 79.3% 72.8%
Enrolled % 15.5% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.37
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/26 27/32
SAT Range 995/1280 1178/1363
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2026

Academics

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
Graduation Rate 33% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $232 $232

Diversity

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
% Men 6% 1%
% Women 21% 1%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 55%
% Black 4% 10%
% Hispanic 2% 18%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 7%

Students

University of Southern Maine Purchase College
% In-State 66% 78%
% Out-of-State 32% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Southern Maine is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (7,528 students vs. 3,229 students)

University of Southern Maine vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Maine or Purchase College?

  • University of Southern Maine is 17.6% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($8,316.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.3% higher at University of Southern Maine than SUNY at Purchase College ($24,500.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Maine than Purchase College ($12,006 vs. $18,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Maine are 32.2% lower than costs at SUNY at Purchase College ($11,650 vs. $15,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Southern Maine than SUNY at Purchase College (95% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Maine students is 5.5% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($10,158 vs. $9,627)

University of Southern Maine vs. Purchase College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at SUNY at Purchase College (1082) is 98 points higher than at University of Southern Maine (984)
  • Incoming Purchase College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at University of Southern Maine (22)
  • Accepted freshman Purchase College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at University of Southern Maine (3.33)
  • University of Southern Maine has a higher acceptance rate (79.3%) than Purchase College (72.8%)

University of Southern Maine vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Southern Maine or Purchase 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 Purchase College and University of Southern Maine.

  • The graduation rate at Purchase College is higher than University of Southern Maine (56% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Southern Maine earn on average $2,400 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($42,600 vs. $40,200)
  • SUNY at Purchase College and University of Southern Maine graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($22,500 vs. $22,500)
  • SUNY at Purchase College and University of Southern Maine graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($232 vs. $232)
  • More Purchase College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Southern Maine students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 64%)

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