Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to SUNY at Purchase College

Open-data reference.

We found 7 schools structurally similar to SUNY at Purchase College that cost less. 7 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, New York · Public

$18,913
Net Price
$45,092
Median Earnings (10yr)
74.1%
Acceptance Rate
62.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to SUNY at Purchase College

SUNY at Purchase College posts an average net price of $18,913 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with SUNY at Purchase College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 7 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $8,750, achieved by University of Washington-Tacoma Campus at $10,163. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 7 of the 7 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above SUNY at Purchase College’s $45,092, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $75,920.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

7
Alternatives Found
$8,750
Max Savings
7
Better Value Options
52%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. Virginia Military Institute $77k 2. Rutgers University-Camden $74k 3. Missouri University of Scien $83k 4. University of Washington-Tac $78k 5. University of Connecticut-St $74k Compared to SUNY at Purchase College: $45k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · Public Better Value
$17,113 -$1,800 $77,369 78.9% 52%
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · Public Better Value
$18,745 -$168 $74,479 66.6% 48%
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO · Public Better Value
$16,298 -$2,615 $82,957 64.0% 47%
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public Better Value
$10,163 -$8,750 $78,466 62.8% 47%
University of Connecticut-Stamford
Stamford, CT · Public Better Value
$16,798 -$2,115 $73,997 56.7% 43%
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · Public Better Value
$11,531 -$7,382 $71,902 67.6% 43%
Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR · Public Better Value
$15,706 -$3,207 $72,273 56.3% 41%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than SUNY at Purchase College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to SUNY at Purchase College?
We found 7 schools similar to SUNY at Purchase College that cost less. The closest match is Virginia Military Institute with 52% similarity and a net price of $17,113.
What is the ROI of attending SUNY at Purchase College?
SUNY at Purchase College has an average net price of $18,913. Former students earn a median of $45,092 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than SUNY at Purchase College for less money?
Yes - 7 of 7 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Virginia Military Institute costs $17,113 (saving $1,800) with median earnings of $77,369.
What is the cheapest alternative to SUNY at Purchase College?
The most affordable similar school is University of Washington-Tacoma Campus at $10,163, saving $8,750 compared to SUNY at Purchase College. It has a 47% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 7 alternatives have an average median earnings of $75,920 compared to SUNY at Purchase College's $45,092. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.