Amherst vs. Purchase College

Amherst College and SUNY at Purchase College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
SUNY at Purchase College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 74%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1280.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $19,049 at Amherst vs $18,211 at Purchase College. Amherst in-state tuition is about $61,527 more per year.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs Purchase College 56%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs Purchase College $40,200 (median).
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Key differences

Amherst College SUNY at Purchase College
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
Purchase College74%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
Purchase College1185-1380
Average net price
About even
Amherst$19,049
Purchase College$18,211
In-state tuition
Purchase College $61,527 less
Amherst$70,480
Purchase College$8,953
Out-of-state tuition
Purchase College $51,277 less
Amherst$70,480
Purchase College$19,203
Graduation rate
Amherst +40 pts
Amherst96%
Purchase College56%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$41,800
Amherst$82,000
Purchase College$40,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • Purchase College Low
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • Purchase College 1185-1380
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • Purchase College 27-30
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • Purchase College $232
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • Purchase College #351

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

SUNY at Purchase College is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (3,333 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 10.6% lower than at Amherst College ($16,436 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 267% higher at Amherst than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $51,277 more per year; $70,480 vs. $19,203).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Amherst College (72% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 557.5% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($68,591 vs. $10,432).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at Amherst than at Purchase College (34 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and Purchase College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Amherst average a 3.91 high school GPA, 0.54 higher than at Purchase College (3.37).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $9,525 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($12,975 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $98 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($134 vs. $232).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 65%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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