Colgate vs. Purchase College

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

Colgate University
SUNY at Purchase College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Colgate (13.9% admitted vs 74%). Typical SAT 1490 vs 1280.
  • Cheaper after aid: Purchase College. Average net price is $18,211 vs $28,736 at Colgate.
  • Graduation: Colgate 92% vs Purchase College 56%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colgate $75,300 vs Purchase College $40,200 (median).
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Key differences

Colgate University SUNY at Purchase College
Acceptance rate
Colgate more selective
Colgate13.9%
Purchase College74%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Colgate higher
Colgate1430-1540
Purchase College1185-1380
Average net price
Purchase College $10,525 less
Colgate$28,736
Purchase College$18,211
In-state tuition
Purchase College $61,353 less
Colgate$70,306
Purchase College$8,953
Out-of-state tuition
Purchase College $51,103 less
Colgate$70,306
Purchase College$19,203
Graduation rate
Colgate +36 pts
Colgate92%
Purchase College56%
Median earnings (10 years)
Colgate +$35,100
Colgate$75,300
Purchase College$40,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Purchase College Low
  • SAT range
  • Colgate 1430-1540
  • Purchase College 1185-1380
  • ACT range
  • Colgate 33-34
  • Purchase College 27-30
  • Submit test scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average net price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average grant aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median loan payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Purchase College $232
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Purchase College #351

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (3,333 students vs. 3,211 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 6.7% lower than at Colgate University ($16,436 vs. $17,610).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 266.1% higher at Colgate than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $51,103 more per year; $70,306 vs. $19,203).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Colgate University (72% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 459.2% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($58,334 vs. $10,432).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Colgate than at Purchase College (33 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colgate and Purchase College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Colgate average a 3.77 high school GPA, 0.4 higher than at Purchase College (3.37).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $6,375 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($16,125 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($166 vs. $232).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation (86% 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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