Acceptance Rate
74%
Avg. SAT
1380
75th percentile
“Rockefeller's 1967 experiment in public arts education, blending conservatory intensity with liberal arts freedom on a wooded Westchester estate.”
Purchase, NY
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
Purchase College, founded in 1967 by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, occupies part of the Rockefeller family estate in suburban Westchester County, just 30 miles north of Manhattan. Rockefeller aimed to create an affordable public alternative to elite private conservatories, drawing top talent into programs in acting, dance, film, visual arts, and music while requiring a full liberal arts curriculum. Students who thrive here chase creative passions with single-minded focus, often practicing lines or sketches late into the night; analytical types seeking business or STEM paths might feel out of place amid the artistic intensity.
The campus feels like a modernist arts village, with bold concrete buildings rising from 550 wooded acres, fostering a quirky, bohemian personality where rehearsals spill into hallways and gallery openings pack weekends. You'll find a mix of New Yorkers and out-of-staters drawn to the creative energy, but the suburban setting means relying on buses or cars for bigger-city thrills, trading urban grit for quiet focus and lower living costs than Manhattan. Out-of-state tuition remains reasonable for a specialized program near NYC, though dorm life dominates social options.
Photo Gallery
+19
+11
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In the classroom, expect hands-on immersion from day one, especially in conservatories where acting majors audition for roles in mainstage productions and film students edit shorts using professional gear. Liberal arts requirements balance the arts emphasis, with small seminars encouraging debate on everything from philosophy to screenwriting; introductory classes stay under 30 students, though popular electives fill fast. Research opportunities abound for upperclassmen, like collaborating on experimental dance pieces or curating exhibits at the Neuberger Museum.
Tradeoffs include fierce competition to enter conservatories after freshman year, with some applicants waitlisted, and fewer resources for non-arts majors like sciences or economics. Faculty, many working professionals, prioritize studio critiques over lectures, creating a portfolio-driven culture that suits self-starters but challenges those needing structure.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
3,257 undergrad • 76 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
51%
Black / African American
12%
Hispanic / Latino
25%
Asian
4%
Other / Multi-racial
9%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Purchase, NY
Varsity Athletics
Campus life pulses with performances—think student-directed plays in black-box theaters or free concerts under the stars—making weekends feel like a nonstop festival. Dorms, including futuristic geodesic domes from the 1970s, house most undergrads, sparking tight-knit floors where musicians jam and artists swap critiques late. A typical week mixes classes, rehearsals, and club meetings, with Thursday parties spilling into Friday open mics; the social scene skews artsy and low-key, less Greek life and more collaborative crews.
Westchester's suburbs offer hiking trails and farm stands nearby, but you'll bus into NYC for concerts or clubs, adding commute time. Weather brings snowy winters that keep everyone indoors rehearsing, while housing fills quickly for upperclassmen, pushing some into off-campus apartments with higher rents.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
80%
4 Years Graduation Rate
60%
6 Years Graduation Rate
67%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$45,092
80% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at SUNY at Purchase College and return in the fall. 60% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 67% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
60%
4-5 years
7%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
32%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$7,070
Acceptance
74%
Undergrads
3,257
4-Year Grad Rate
60%
Endowment
$80M
Purchase, NY 10577-1400
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