Purchase College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially SUNY at Purchase College · Purchase, New York · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 7,845
- Applicants
- 5,809
- Admitted74%
- 750
- Enrolled
- 13%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective74% admittedRanked #128 (tie) in National Liberal Arts CollegesU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by SUNY at Purchase College (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is Purchase College a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Purchase College against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Purchase College is a public university in Purchase, New York that admits about 74% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $18,913 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Purchase College is a public institution located in Purchase, New York with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Purchase College admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 74%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1300 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,913 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Purchase College?
Purchase College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
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What does Purchase College weight in admissions?
Purchase College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Talent/ability
Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Character/personal qualities
Considered
12- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Purchase College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 565–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 625. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–30. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1198 |
| 50th percentile | 1300 |
| 75th percentile | 1363 |
| % submitting SAT | 6% |
| 25th percentile | 27 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 2% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Purchase College actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,953 for in-state students and $19,203 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,436 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,913 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 36% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $18,913 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Purchase College
| Regular deadline | July 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or 4 weeks if notified after |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 15 |
Most popular majors at Purchase College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Purchase College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Purchase College confers roughly 574 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program report a median income of about $42,645 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 149 | $42,645 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 80 | $49,750 |
| Psychology, General | 66 | $51,651 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 65 | $37,180 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 62 | $30,385 |
| Dance | 56 | $21,932 |
| Music | 53 | $31,045 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 43 | $41,761 |
Is Purchase College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Purchase College disclosed 17 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 13 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
- SUNY Brockport71% acceptance
- SUNY Buffalo State University73% acceptance
- SUNY Old Westbury84% acceptance
- SUNY Oneonta70% acceptance
- The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art21% acceptance
- Columbia University in the City of New York4% acceptance
- Cornell University9% acceptance
- New York University9% acceptance
Next steps for Purchase College
Common questions parents ask about Purchase College
What GPA do I need for Purchase College?
Purchase College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Purchase College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 565–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 625. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 27–30.
How much does Purchase College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Purchase College after grants and scholarships is $18,913 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,953 and $19,203 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Purchase College realistic for my child?
Purchase College admits 74% of applicants, so 565–670 SAT Math is target range and below 565 is a reach. Then check the $18,913 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Purchase College?
Purchase College accepts about 74% of applicants out of roughly 7,845 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Purchase College test-optional?
Yes. Purchase College is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What does Purchase College look for in applicants?
Purchase College rates GPA, the application essay and talent and ability as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Purchase College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Purchase College is a public institution located in Purchase, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Purchase College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Purchase College by annual graduates are Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General. The school awards about 574 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Purchase College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Purchase College reported 17 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by SUNY at Purchase College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers