Purchase College vs The College of Westchester

SUNY at Purchase College and The College of Westchester, both located in New York, offer distinct educational experiences. Purchase College boasts a lower acceptance rate of 48%, indicating a more selective admissions process, while The College of Westchester's 100% acceptance rate ensures admission for all qualified applicants. In terms of student body demographics, Purchase College has a larger population with over 4,000 undergraduates, while The College of Westchester fosters a more intimate learning environment with approximately 2,500 undergraduates. Both institutions offer a diverse range of popular majors, including Business, Psychology, and Nursing, but Purchase College additionally excels in the arts, with programs in Film, Dance, and Music. While Purchase College boasts a higher graduation rate of 62%, The College of Westchester offers a more affordable option with lower tuition fees. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover further distinctions and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
SUNY at Purchase College logo

SUNY at Purchase College

The College of Westchester logo

The College of Westchester

Overview

Location Purchase, New York White Plains, New York
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (For Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 79.0% 50.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.4% 97.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
$40
SAT range 1120 - 1320 N/A
ACT range 27 - 31 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 2.0%
Total number of applicants 4,047 500
Total number of admissions given out 3,052 489
Admitted students who chose to enroll 680 121
Yield rate 22.3% 24.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,661

Out of state: $38,571
$37,695
Average net price $19,458 $11,148
Tuition
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $16,980
$21,060
Room & board
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)

76.0%
Average amount $8,868
100.0%
Average amount $18,330
Students receiving federal student loan 40.0%
Average amount $5,040
41.0%
Average amount $5,007
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $12,471
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,439
Men 41.1% Women 58.9%
873
Men 27.9% Women 72.1%
Graduate students 83
Men 51.8% Women 48.2%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 16.2% N/A
International students 1.9% N/A
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,270 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Jersey Connecticut Florida Mississippi N/A

Academics

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

Outcome

Graduation rate 63.5% 48.0%
Dropout rate 12.0% 31.9%
Transferred out 23.1% 20.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,045
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $50,857
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,693
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $39,522
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,792
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $39,355
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,619
  • Year 2: $35,416
  • Year 3: $33,956
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $35,954
  • Year 3: $33,784
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,393
  • Year 2: $29,250
  • Year 3: $30,616
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,240
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $29,965
Computer Software and Media Applications (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $14,935
  • Year 3: N/A
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A