Purchase College Rated as Top 386 College by Princeton Review

Purchase College, SUNY, is listed as one of the “Top 386 Colleges” in the nation by The Princeton Review in the 2021 edition of their college guide. Purchase is also listed as a Best Northeastern College and a Best Value College. As a college that takes great pride in its values of diversity and acceptance, Purchase is on the list of most LGBTQ friendly colleges in the nation. Home to the acclaimed Performing Arts Center, Purchase was also ranked on the list of Best College Theaters.

Only about 14% of the nation’s 2,800 four-year colleges are profiled in the book. The company chooses the colleges for the book based on data it annually collects from administrators at hundreds of colleges about their institutions’ academic offerings. The Princeton Review also considers data it gathers from its surveys of college students who rate and report on various aspects of their campus and community experiences.

The Princeton Review praises Purchase for its excellent academic programs in the liberal arts and sciences and performing and visual arts. The college’s faculty members across the board were lauded for their commitment to “going out of their way to make sure everyone is on the same page,” and offering “rich and exciting,” classes that “bring the material [to] life and take learning outside the classroom.” The guide points out Purchase’s close proximity to New York City, which helps students benefit from social and educational opportunities, a fertile alumni network, and access to some of the best artists in New York area who serve as adjunct faculty.

In the Purchase College profile, students point out a “definite sense of unity and acceptance” on campus, “meaning that everyone is free to be themselves.” The student body was described by one student as “being all about finding new ways to think about things, from science to art to management.”

“We’re proud that Purchase has been nationally recognized for its strong academic programs, dedicated faculty, and unique campus culture,” said Shane Seaman, Interim Dean of Enrollment Management at Purchase College. “We’re also proud that the Princeton Review has listed Purchase as being a best value college. In this challenging economy, when so many families are struggling, we remain dedicated to providing a top-notch, high quality education that is affordable and accessible. We hope the guide inspires prospective students who are looking for the best place for them to learn and to grow as scholars, scientists, and artists.”

In addition to the Princeton Review recognition, Purchase College has recently been included on other significant college ranking lists. Purchase was selected for inclusion in the highly selective 2021 edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges based on the college’s strength in academics, arts and culture, social life, financial aid, campus environment, extracurricular activities, and more. Purchase is included among the best National Liberal Arts Colleges listed in the 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges which also ranked Purchase as a top performer on social mobility, a metric that measures how well colleges serve lower income students.

About Purchase College, SUNY

Purchase College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network of 64 universities and colleges, was founded in 1967 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. Today, Purchase College, SUNY is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity. For more information about the college, visit www.purchase.edu.