Staten Island vs. Purchase College

Deciding between College of Staten Island CUNY and SUNY at Purchase College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of Staten Island CUNY
SUNY at Purchase College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Staten Island Staten Island, NY
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Staten Island Large City
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Staten Island 11,033
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Staten Island Public 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Staten Island #622
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Staten Island -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • Staten Island Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Staten Island
  • Purchase College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Staten Island $7,490
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Staten Island $15,440
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • Staten Island $21,155
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • Staten Island $6,525
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Staten Island $8,526
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Staten Island 80%
  • Purchase College 72%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Staten Island 14,002
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Staten Island 12,929
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Staten Island 92.3%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • Staten Island 17%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Staten Island 1070
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Staten Island
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Staten Island 3.0
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Staten Island B
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Staten Island Average
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Staten Island
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Staten Island
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Staten Island 890/1250
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Staten Island Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Staten Island
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Staten Island 17:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Staten Island
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (30%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Staten Island 48%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Staten Island $45,100
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Staten Island 49%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Staten Island $13,987
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Staten Island $144
  • Purchase College $232
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Staten Island 47%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • Staten Island 53%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Staten Island High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • Staten Island No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • Staten Island 47%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Staten Island 12%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • Staten Island 14%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Staten Island 23%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Staten Island 1%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • Staten Island 3%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Purchase College 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Staten Island 90%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Staten Island 0%
  • Purchase College 19%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Staten Island No
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Staten Island No
  • Purchase College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Staten Island No
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Staten Island Yes
  • Purchase College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Staten Island Yes
  • Purchase College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Staten Island CUNY in Staten Island, NY with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Staten Island CUNY is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (11,033 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of Staten Island CUNY is located in Staten Island, NY (Large City setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • College of Staten Island CUNY is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Staten Island CUNY 17:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Staten Island vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Staten Island or Purchase College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Staten Island CUNY than Purchase College ($6,525 vs. $18,211).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 22.3% lower than at College of Staten Island CUNY ($16,436 vs. $21,155).
  • SUNY at Purchase College is 19.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Staten Island (about $1,463 more per year; $8,953.00 vs. $7,490.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 24.4% higher at Purchase College than at College of Staten Island CUNY (about $3,763 more per year; $19,203.00 vs. $15,440.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Staten Island CUNY than at SUNY at Purchase College (80% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students is 22.4% larger than aid received by College of Staten Island CUNY students ($10,432 vs. $8,526).

Staten Island vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Staten Island or Purchase College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purchase College and Staten Island.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY at Purchase College (1280) is 210 points higher than at Staten Island (1070).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Staten Island CUNY 890/1250; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Staten Island - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purchase College students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Staten Island (3.0).
  • Staten Island has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than Purchase College (74%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at Staten Island vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Staten Island vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Staten Island and Purchase College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • SUNY at Purchase College's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than College of Staten Island CUNY's (48%).
  • Graduates from College of Staten Island CUNY earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,100 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Staten Island CUNY graduates have a $8,513 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($13,987 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Staten Island graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($144 vs. $232).
  • More Purchase College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Staten Island students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.