State University of New York - Purchase College (PC)

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01. Overview

What the school is known for:

Its motto "Think Wide Open" perfectly sums up Purchase College, SUNY, long the artsy lodestone in the SUNY system: the conservatory here "deserves and receives the highest respect." Between the School of the Arts and the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, there are over 40 majors to choose (and, if those don't suit you, a rarely chosen option to design your own). Nearly all bachelor's students must complete a senior project in which they devote two semesters to in-depth, original, and creative study, and students welcome the chance to explore. "We're all about finding new ways to think about things, from science to art to management," says one.

Classes tend to be about "learning through discussion" rather than lecture, and professors "go out of their way to make sure that everyone is on the same page, and don't leave anyone behind." They often actively work in the field in which they teach, and therefore "bring the material life and take learning outside the classroom." Classes in both the creative arts and general education are "rich and exciting," such as the professor who "teaches classes about Jack Kerouac on a train and walks the path of On the Road." Students benefit from the school's proximity to New York City (less than an hour away), where auditions, showcases, and a fertile alumni network thrive, and "some of the best artists in the NY area become adjunct faculty at this school at some point."

02. Rankings

Rankings and Lists

03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Applicants Icon
Applicants
7,221
Acceptance Icon
Acceptance Rate
73%
GPA Icon
Average HS GPA
3.38

Deadlines

Early Action
November 15
Regular
July 1

SAT & ACT Test Scores

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
600 - 700

SAT Math

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
578 - 663

SAT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1200 - 1255

ACT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
27 - 32

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Testing Policies

Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional

Other Admission Factors Academic

Admission Factors Icon
Academic GPA
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Application Essay

Non-Academic

Talent / Ability Icon
Talent / Ability

Selectivity

4. Cost, Tuition, Expenses

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$16,980
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,240
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Transportation for Commuters
$1,840
On-Campus Room and Board
15400
Approximate Expenses per year
$35,460

Students Also View These Schools

05. Academics

Student Faculty Icon
Student/Faculty
11 : 1
Acceptance Icon
Total Faculty
448

Gender

Women
224
Men
224
Minority
119
International
9

Class/Lab sizes

Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19

Rating

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
Graduate in 5 years
Graduate in 6 years
0%

University Degrees

Bachelor's
Certificate
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate

06. Student Body

What students say:

Students at Purchase describe the school as a place for everyone, particularly the "artsy, unique, passionate, [and] intelligent." The overall "sense of unity and acceptance" means that students are free to be themselves and can "walk around confident in who they are, and they aren't afraid to show their unique styles and personalities." There are a lot of "free spirits" and the atmosphere is "filled with liberal ideologies," and the high concentration of visual/multi-media artists, musicians, and dancers means that "creativity and the arts flourish." The decent number of commuters don't have any real problem integrating with the resident population, and "you can always incorporate your craft into whatever you create at Purchase."stAte University of new york-pUrchAse collegeE-Mail: admissions@purchase.edu • Website: www.purchase.edu

Gender

59% female41% male

Out of State

15% are out
of state
85% are
in-state

Students

93% are
full time
7% are
part time

Student Body Profile

Total Undergraduate Enrollment
3,194
Foreign Countries Represented
54

Student Body Demographics

American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.03%
Asian
3.82%
Black
12.08%
Hispanic
25.00%
Caucasian
50.45%
Unknown
0.71%
International
1.51%

07. Mental Health

08. Campus Life

What students say:

For fun, there's "a TON of things going on": weekly dance parties and concerts, student clubs, lectures, an on-campus museum, free yoga classes, Zumba, and tons of festivals. People "pay a lot of money to see bands and they support music and musicians here," and theatre is also "very, very big and popular." Though there are 17 Division III athletics teams, students feel that they get less emphasis, and Greek life is non-existent. Students receive email digests of all the events on campus, and for those who want to get off campus, it's easy to take a bus into White Plains or take the train into Manhattan. "The question isn't 'What to do for fun?' but rather 'Where do you even start?'" Professors usually "know a lot about what's going on" and will often get free tickets to performances for students. While the Student Center (Stood) and library facilities are admittedly great ("there are different levels, so students never have to be isolated in one spot"), many dorms are still on the older side and "need to be updated badly." To its credit, Purchase has been making yearly renovations, including the Wayback residence hall for upper-level students.

Students
73%
First-Year Students
84%
Campus Environment
Suburban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes

9. Campus Visits

Campus Visits Contact

Caitlin Read
Dean of admissions and Enrollment Management
Location Icon
SUNY Purchase 735 Anderson Hill Rd. Purchase, NY 10577-1400
Phone icon
914-251-6300

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center

Phone icon
914-251-6300

Campus Tours

Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Year-round
Times:
Monday/Friday
Average Length:
1 hour

Visits

CLASS VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

FACULTY AND COACH VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Athletic Department
Advance Notice
2 weeks
 

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews:
Yes
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
Monday/Friday

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Campus Tours


TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO CAMPUS

By train: From New York City via rail from Grand Central Station, take the Harlem Line/Metro North to White Plains. Board the Anderson Hill Road bus No. 12 or take a taxi to campus. Alternatively, take the New Haven Line/Metro North to Rye and take a taxi to campus. By Bus: Take the No. 12 northbound from White Plains or southbound from Yorktown, Mount Kisco, or Armonk. Buses leave approximately every hour, Monday through Saturday.


DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO CAMPUS

From New York City, Southern Westchester, and Long Island-Take the Hutchinson River Parkway north to Exit 28 (Lincoln Avenue). Turn left onto Lincoln Avenue and proceed approximately one mile to Anderson Hill Road (2nd traffic light). Turn right onto Anderson Hill Road. The campus is immediately on the left. From Rockland County and northern New Jersey (via the Tappan Zee Bridge)-Take I-287 (Cross Westchester Expressway) to Exit 8E. Shortly after first traffic light, bear left onto Anderson Hill Road. Proceed approximately 2.5 miles. The campus is on the left, just after intersection at Lincoln Avenue. From Northern Westchester-Take I-684 south to Exit 2 (Route 120), drive over the bridge and turn right onto Route 120 south (Purchase Street). Follow Route 120 south, 3.2 miles to Anderson Hill Road (1st traffic light) and turn left. Turn left at 2nd traffic light into campus. From Connecticut: Take the Merritt Parkway south (which becomes the Hutchinson River Parkway in New York State) south to New York Exit 28, Lincoln Avenue (Note: Do not get off at Exit 28 in Connecticut). Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue and proceed approximately one mile to Anderson Hill Road (2nd traffic light). Turn right onto Anderson Hill Road. The campus is immediately on the left.

LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrowwood Resort/Conference Center Anderson Hill Rd., Rye Brook 914-939-5500 Courtyard by Marriott 631 Midland Ave., Rye 914-921-1110 Rye Town Hilton 699 Westchester Ave., Rye Brook 914-939-6300


10. Sports & Athletics

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Athletic Division III

Participate in intercollegiate sports
9%

Men's Sports (Panthers)

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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Golf
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Lacrosse
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Soccer
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Swimming
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Tennis
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Volleyball

Women's Sports (Panthers)

Icon
Basketball
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Cross Country
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Lacrosse
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Soccer
Icon
Softball
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Swimming
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Tennis
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Volleyball

11. Housing & Activities

Hosting Features

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Apartment Single
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Disabled Student
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Dorms Coed
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International Student
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Other
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Theme Housing
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Wellness Housing

Special Needs Admissions

College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No

Student Activities

Registered Student Organizations
33

12. Student Services

Day Care
Health
Womens Center

Sustainability

School Has Formal Sustainability Committee
Yes
Sustainability-focused degree available
Yes
School employs a sustainability officer
Yes
Public GHG inventory plan
Yes

Green rating

89%

Food budget spent on local/organic food

3%

Available Transportation Alternatives

Bike Share
X Mark icon
Car Sharing Program
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Incentives Or Programs To Encourage Employees To Live Close To Campus
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School Adopted A Policy Prohibiting Idling
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School Developed Bicycle Plan
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CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

Please visit The Princeton Review's page on campus safety for additional resources:

Visit Page
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The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/

Other Information

Campus-wide Internet Network
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Fee for Network Use
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Partnerships with Technology Companies
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Personal computer included in tuition for each student
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Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
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13. Financial Aid

Dates

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Notification DateMar 1

Required Forms

FAFSA
State Aid

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$11,532
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$12,063
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,298
Undergraduates who have borrowed through any loan program
66%
Average amount of loan debt per graduate
$17,119
Financial aid provided to international students
No

Available Aid

Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Aid

01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
04 - Need-Based SEOG
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships

Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):

01 - Federal Perkins Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes

14. Career Services & Jobs

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
Graduate in 5 years
Graduate in 6 years
0%

Career Services

01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Classes
04 - Interest Inventory
05 - Internships
06 - On Campus Interviews

Opportunities at School

01 - Experiential
02 - Internship

15. Majors

Down Arrow Icon

02 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.

  • Biochemistry.
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
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04 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.

  • Creative Writing.
  • English Literature (British and Commonwealth).
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06 HISTORY.

  • History, General.
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07 LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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08 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.

  • Mathematics, General.
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09 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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12 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

  • Chemistry, General.
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13 PSYCHOLOGY.

  • Psychology, General.
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14 SOCIAL SCIENCES.

  • Anthropology.
  • Economics, General.
  • Political Science and Government, General.
  • Sociology.
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15 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

  • Acting.
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation.
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production.
  • Dance, General.
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
  • Drawing.
  • Film/Cinema/Video Studies.
  • Fine and Studio Arts Management.
  • Graphic Design.
  • Jazz/Jazz Studies.
  • Music Performance, General.
  • Music Theory and Composition.
  • Music, General.
  • Painting.
  • Photography.
  • Playwriting and Screenwriting.
  • Printmaking.
  • Sculpture.
  • Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology.
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General.
  • Voice and Opera.

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