SUNY at Purchase College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

SUNY Purchase

 Rschaming / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

The State University of New York at Purchase is a public college with an acceptance rate of 52%. Located on a 500-acre campus in Westchester Country, Purchase College is just 30 miles from New York City. The college is unique among the SUNY schools because of its strong conservatory-based arts programs. Purchase College wins high marks for both the arts and the liberal arts and sciences. In athletics, the Purchase College Panthers compete in the NCAA Division III Skyline Conference.

Considering applying to SUNY at Purchase College? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, SUNY at Purchase College had an acceptance rate of 52%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 52 students were admitted, making SUNY Purchase's admissions process competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 6,486
Percent Admitted 52%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 24%

SAT Scores and Requirements

SUNY at Purchase College has test-optional admission for most students. Applicants who are homeschooled, international students, and students who attend secondary schools that do not provide letter of numerical grades are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 39% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 540 640
Math 520 620
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of SUNY at Purchase College's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to SUNY Purchase scored between 540 and 640, while 25% scored below 540 and 25% scored above 640. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 520 and 620, while 25% scored below 520 and 25% scored above 620. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1260 or higher is competitive for SUNY at Purchase College.

Requirements

SUNY at Purchase College does not require SAT scores for admission for most applicants. For students who choose to submit scores, note that SUNY Purchase participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SUNY Purchase does not require the essay section of the SAT.

ACT Scores and Requirements

SUNY at Purchase College has test-optional admission for most students. Applicants who are homeschooled, international students, and students who attend secondary schools that do not provide letter of numerical grades are required to submit SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 9% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 24 34
Math 21 28
Composite 23 30

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of SUNY at Purchase College's admitted students fall within the top 31% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to SUNY Purchase received a composite ACT score between 23 and 30, while 25% scored above 30 and 25% scored below 23.

Requirements

Note that SUNY Purchase does not require ACT scores for admission for most applicants. For students who choose to submit scores, SUNY Purchase participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. SUNY Purchase does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA of SUNY at Purchase College's incoming freshmen class was 3.34, and over 36% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.5 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to SUNY Purchase have primarily B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

SUNY Purchase College Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
SUNY Purchase College Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to SUNY at Purchase College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

SUNY at Purchase College, which accepts just over half of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool with above average grades and test scores. However, Purchase College also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. While not required, Purchase College recommends interviews for interested applicants. 

Purchase College’s motto is “Think Wide Open.” As part of the admissions process, applicants are required to demonstrate what the phrase Think Wide Open means to them. Students may submit an essay, video, or a previously graded work (B+ or better) which connects to the theme Think Wide Open. Note that programs in Acting, Creative Writing, Dance, Film, Music, Theatre Design/Technology, and Visual arts have audition or portfolio requirements. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of SUNY at Purchase College's average range. If SUNY Purchase is your first choice, note that the school has an Early Action option than can improve your chances of admission and demonstrate your interest in the college

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent students who were admitted to SUNY Purchase. Most admitted students had a high school GPA of a "B-" or better, a combined SAT score (ERW+M) of 950 or higher, and an ACT composite score of 18 or higher.

If You Like SUNY Purchase, You May Also Like These Schools

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Educational Statistics and SUNY at Purchase College Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "SUNY at Purchase College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/suny-purchase-college-admissions-787221. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 29). SUNY at Purchase College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/suny-purchase-college-admissions-787221 Grove, Allen. "SUNY at Purchase College: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/suny-purchase-college-admissions-787221 (accessed March 28, 2024).