Purchase College vs SUNY Albany

SUNY at Purchase College and SUNY at Albany, both esteemed institutions within the State University of New York system, offer distinct educational experiences. Purchase College, nestled in the vibrant town of Purchase, boasts a lower acceptance rate, fostering a more selective academic environment. It excels in the arts, with popular majors in the visual and performing arts, while Albany, situated in the heart of New York's capital city, offers a broader range of academic programs, including business, health sciences, and social sciences. Albany's larger student body reflects its diverse demographics, while Purchase College's smaller size cultivates a close-knit community. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, ensuring students receive the support they need to succeed. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
SUNY at Albany logo

SUNY at Albany

SUNY at Purchase College logo

SUNY at Purchase College

Overview

Location Albany, New York Purchase, New York
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 82.0% 79.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 68.0% 75.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
SAT range 1090 - 1280 1120 - 1320
ACT range 22 - 29 27 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 15.0% 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 2.0% 2.0%
Total number of applicants 21,265 4,047
Total number of admissions given out 14,458 3,052
Admitted students who chose to enroll 3,030 680
Yield rate 21.0% 22.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,578

Out of state: $44,418
In state: $28,661

Out of state: $38,571
Average net price $17,350 $19,458
Tuition
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $24,910
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $16,980
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,558

Meal plan: $5,495
Room/dormitory: $9,098

Meal plan: $5,450
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

84.0%
Average amount $10,460
76.0%
Average amount $8,868
Students receiving federal student loan 54.0%
Average amount $5,299
40.0%
Average amount $5,040
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $13,629
3.0%
Average amount $12,471

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 12,654
Men 46.4% Women 53.6%
3,439
Men 41.1% Women 58.9%
Graduate students 4,421
Men 35.0% Women 65.0%
83
Men 51.8% Women 48.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 4.4% 16.2%
International students 6.6% 1.9%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,867 2,270
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Maryland New York New Jersey Connecticut Florida Mississippi

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Liberal Arts
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 66.3% 63.5%
Dropout rate 8.5% 12.0%
Transferred out 24.4% 23.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,203
  • Year 2: $74,307
  • Year 3: $95,473
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,947
  • Year 2: $74,576
  • Year 3: $92,782
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,191
  • Year 2: $60,256
  • Year 3: $75,996
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,841
  • Year 2: $49,962
  • Year 3: $69,785
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,012
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $63,462
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,175
  • Year 2: $49,270
  • Year 3: $61,387
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,902
  • Year 2: $40,510
  • Year 3: $58,543
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,701
  • Year 2: $52,733
  • Year 3: $55,488
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $43,798
  • Year 3: $52,904
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,404
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $52,601
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,041
  • Year 3: $52,996
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,399
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $50,881
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,852
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $41,970
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,844
  • Year 2: $23,693
  • Year 3: $41,354
Journalism (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,684
  • Year 2: $30,305
  • Year 3: $37,885
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,288
  • Year 2: $26,482
  • Year 3: $36,161
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,080
  • Year 2: $30,047
  • Year 3: $33,268
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,859
  • Year 2: $30,475
  • Year 3: $32,388
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,933
  • Year 2: $26,933
  • Year 3: $31,949
Literature (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,339
  • Year 2: $21,234
  • Year 3: $30,297

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