SUNY at Purchase College
Purchase, New York · Public · 74.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 33/100 · Poor Value
SUNY Purchase posts a 33/100 ROI score in our framework, landing in Poor Value tier despite a respectable 62.8% completion rate and modest in-state tuition of $8,953. The mismatch is structural: Purchase is a public arts-and-humanities-focused liberal arts college, with its largest programs concentrated in Drama, Film, Music, Fine Arts, and Visual & Performing Arts — fields where median first-year earnings of $12,000-$22,000 are common. That program mix drags the school's overall median earnings to $31,300 six years out, well below typical SUNY four-years. Median debt of $21,067 against those earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, and the paybackPeriod of 21.4 years reflects how long earnings premium over high-school graduates needs to compound to recoup costs. Net price of $18,913 is meaningfully higher than in-state tuition because room, board, and fees stack on a residential campus 35 miles north of NYC. Total four-year cost of $75,652 is significant for any family. The 35.5% Pell rate and three-year repayment rate of 65.6% paint a population that's borrowing through but not repaying quickly. SUNY Purchase's value depends almost entirely on the major a student picks — and the program data below shows huge variance.
The data raises concerns about SUNY at Purchase College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score33/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period21.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
SUNY at Purchase College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,953/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,203/yr |
| Average net price | $18,913/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $75,652 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,092 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,067 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 21.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,197 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at SUNY at Purchase College is $8,953/year ($19,203/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,913/year, or roughly $75,652 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $11,835/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,428/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,067 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $223 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,092 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.67 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,835 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,230 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,658 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,886 |
| $110,001+ | $25,428 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $11,835 net — a strong number reflecting Pell, NY State TAP, and SUNY's institutional aid. Across four years that's $47,340, the most defensible bracket here. Combined with the $21,067 median debt, this group can finish without crushing borrowing if they choose a market-aligned major.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001–$48,000 bracket pays $15,230, the $48,001–$75,000 bracket pays $19,658, and the $75,001–$110,000 bracket pays $20,886 — a clean monotonic progression with no inversion. Middle-income families pay $61,000-$83,000 over four years against $31,300 graduate earnings; the math works only with a marketable major and minimal supplemental borrowing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket pays $25,428 — over $101,000 across four years, more than the published $75,652 total cost figure, suggesting the bracket includes families paying full out-of-state-equivalent room and board. High-income families paying full freight for an arts-heavy SUNY are buying location and program specialization, not financial return.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at SUNY at Purchase College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,974 | F |
| Psychology | $47,022 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $46,596 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $14,984 | F |
| Music | $41,926 | F |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $51,954 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $43,265 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $47,922 | D |
| Dance | $30,406 | F |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $39,791 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Purchase's largest program by graduates (139) is also one of its weakest financially. Median first-year earnings of $18,090 against a $26,000 median debt yields a 1.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Four-year earnings climb to $39,974 — meaningful growth but still below the all-major median for SUNY graduates. Purchase's drama program is well-respected within the theater world; students who pursue it should expect a long financial runway, supplemental income work, and major non-financial returns from the training itself.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 61 students annually, second-largest at Purchase. First-year earnings of $27,838 climb to $47,022 by year four, with median debt of $24,250 producing a 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). Psychology majors who plan to stop at the bachelor's face a soft labor market; those who continue to graduate work in counseling, clinical psych, or social work see materially better long-run outcomes — but those programs add their own debt loads.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine Arts graduates 50 students into the toughest market on this list — first-year earnings of $14,984 against $23,850 median debt yields a 1.59 debt-to-earnings ratio and a clear F ROI grade. Four-year earnings data is missing, suggesting graduates are highly dispersed across freelance, gig, and part-time roles. Purchase's MFA-feeder reputation is real, but undergrad-only paths in this field rarely pencil financially without significant family support or career pivot.
Music
Music's 49 graduates earn $17,887 first-year and $41,926 by year four against $22,179 median debt — a 1.24 debt-to-earnings ratio and F ROI grade. Purchase's conservatory reputation in jazz and classical is strong, and the four-year earnings figure shows real recovery for graduates who stay in the field through gigging, teaching, and mixed careers. But the first-year numbers are punishing for borrowers.
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
Arts Management graduates 48 students with first-year earnings of $18,079 climbing to $51,954 by year four — one of the steeper recovery curves in Purchase's arts cluster. Median debt of $22,418 still produces a 1.24 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade in the early years. This program effectively prepares administrators for the same arts industries graduating from Drama, Music, and Fine Arts programs at Purchase — and the four-year earnings show that operational roles pay better than performance roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 59.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 74.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 565-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 620-710 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-30 |
| Enrollment | 3,197 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,079 |
Purchase admits 74.1% of applicants — relatively open access for a SUNY four-year. SAT mid-ranges of 565-670 (math) and 620-710 (reading) and an ACT range of 27-30 indicate a student body in the upper-middle of the four-year college market. Many arts programs require auditions or portfolio review beyond the academic admit, which lifts effective selectivity in those tracks. The 62.8% completion rate suggests admit standards are reasonably matched to retention, though attrition still affects nearly 4 in 10 students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Purchase's listed peers — CUNY Baruch College, CUNY Brooklyn College, Fort Lewis College, Montana State University Billings, and University of South Carolina Aiken — make for an awkward comparison. Baruch is a powerhouse business-focused CUNY with materially higher earnings and a stronger ROI score. Brooklyn College is a closer humanities-leaning peer with similar mid-range outcomes. Fort Lewis, MSU Billings, and USC Aiken are smaller publics with comparable Poor Value tiers and similar payback periods. Purchase sits closer to the Poor Value cohort than to Baruch, primarily due to its arts-heavy major distribution.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY at Purchase College (this school) | 33 | $18,913 | $45,092 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| Montana State University Billings | 34 | $16,524 | $44,296 |
| Fort Lewis College | 33 | $17,296 | $46,349 |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | 33 | $11,641 | $45,603 |
Who Thrives Here
Purchase fits students committed to performing or visual arts who explicitly accept lower early-career earnings as part of their path. With 3,197 students, a 35.5% Pell rate, and a New York metro location, the campus is small, working-to-middle-class, and culturally connected. Outcomes look strong for the small cohorts in Math/Stats ($72,237 four-year earnings) and Economics ($63,207), and acceptable for Sociology and Biology — but for the 139 Drama, 47 Film, 50 Fine Arts, and 49 Music graduates, debt-to-earnings ratios above 1.2 are the norm. Choose a major before choosing Purchase.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about SUNY at Purchase College. With a net cost of $18,913 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,092 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 21.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,067 against $45,092 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.