Purchase, NY · Private University
Is SUNY at Purchase College Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$45,092
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$8,953
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$18,863
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$75,452
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.39x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
7.5 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
61.6%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$21,067
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$19,067
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
SUNY at Purchase College graduates earn $92 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at SUNY at Purchase College ranked by graduate earnings
27 graduates
37 graduates
92 graduates
19 graduates
64 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at SUNY at Purchase College
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At SUNY at Purchase College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Economics: $68,731) and the lowest (Dance: $21,927) is $46,804/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| EconomicsBest ROI | $68,731 | 3.6x |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $56,168 | 3.0x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,121 | 2.5x |
| Biology, General | $47,659 | 2.5x |
| Psychology, General | $44,175 | 2.3x |
| Journalism | $42,754 | 2.3x |
| Sociology | $40,190 | 2.1x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $38,676 | 2.0x |
| Social Sciences, Other | $38,252 | 2.0x |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | $37,714 | 2.0x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $33,861 | 1.8x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $30,237 | 1.6x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $29,813 | 1.6x |
| Music | $26,492 | 1.4x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $24,240 | 1.3x |
| History(1yr data) | $23,803 | 1.3x |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General(1yr data) | $22,024 | 1.2x |
| DanceLowest | $21,927 | 1.2x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
SUNY at Purchase College stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $45,092 10 years after starting, $92 above the national median of $45,000. Graduates typically break even on their investment within 7.5 years, a reasonable timeline.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.