Rutgers vs. Purchase College

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
SUNY at Purchase College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Purchase College Purchase, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Purchase College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Purchase College 3,333
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Purchase College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Purchase College #351
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Purchase College -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Purchase College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Purchase College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Purchase College $8,953
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Purchase College $19,203
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Purchase College $16,436
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Purchase College $18,211
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Purchase College $10,432
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Purchase College 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Purchase College 7,845
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Purchase College 5,809
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Purchase College 74%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Purchase College 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Purchase College 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Purchase College 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Purchase College 3.37
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Purchase College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Purchase College Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Purchase College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Purchase College 27/30
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Purchase College 1185/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Purchase College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Purchase College Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Purchase College 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Purchase College
    • Visual and Performing Arts (37%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Purchase College 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Purchase College $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Purchase College 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Purchase College $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Purchase College $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Purchase College 42%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Purchase College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Purchase College High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Purchase College No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Purchase College 55%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Purchase College 4%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Purchase College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Purchase College 18%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Purchase College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Purchase College 5%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Purchase College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Purchase College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Purchase College 79%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Purchase College 19%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with SUNY at Purchase College in Purchase, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 3,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); SUNY at Purchase College is in Purchase, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY at Purchase College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; SUNY at Purchase College 12:1.

Rutgers vs. Purchase College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 SUNY at Purchase College than Rutgers ($18,211 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 4.4% lower than at SUNY at Purchase College ($15,714 vs. $16,436).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 100.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purchase College (about $8,976 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $8,953.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 95% higher at Rutgers than at SUNY at Purchase College (about $18,238 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $19,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (72% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 60.5% larger than aid received by SUNY at Purchase College students ($16,742 vs. $10,432).

Rutgers vs. Purchase College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 130 points higher than at Purchase College (1280).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Purchase College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; SUNY at Purchase College 1185/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; SUNY at Purchase College 27/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Purchase College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Purchase College Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purchase College students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 12.9% at Purchase College.

Rutgers vs. Purchase College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than SUNY at Purchase College's (56%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $26,000 more per year than Purchase College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $285 lower median loan debt than Purchase College graduates ($22,215 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Purchase College graduates ($229 vs. $232).
  • More Rutgers graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 65%)

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.