First Year
We’re interested in knowing about you—your academic interests, your favorite books or movies, what makes you laugh, and how you’d like to change the world.
Selection Process
When reading applications, we evaluate your academic history and demonstrated readiness for college level work.
Most incoming first year students at Purchase have earned at least a B+ average and have pursued a typical college prep curriculum in high school:
- Four years of English
- Foreign language
- Mathematics
- Social science
- Three to four years of laboratory sciences
But it’s not just your transcript that we consider…
Holistic Review
We consider you as a whole individual. Of course, we evaluate who is best poised to succeed in our programs and who will contribute to our academic community in meaningful ways.
But we also consider rigor of high school coursework, academic and extracurricular interests, unique talents, writing/video submissions, character and personality, letters of recommendation, and community service/involvement.
Scroll down for deadlines.
First Year Class Profile (Fall 2021)
684
Total number of students
633 / 599
Average SAT Reading / Math
88.7%
Average High School GPA
25
Average ACT score
19%
First-year students who are the first in their families to attend college
80%
First-year students who live on campus
Details
Program | Application Deadline for Fall 2024 | Portfolio or Pre-Screening Deadline | Application Deadline for Spring 2024 |
Acting, BFA* | Priority Deadline: November 24, 2023 General Deadline: January 1, 2024 | Priority Deadline: December 1, 2023 General Deadline: January 8, 2024 | Not Offered |
Art+Design* | Priority Deadline: General Deadline: | Priority Deadline: General Deadline: | Transfers Only Open to all majors except Graphic Design Application Deadline: November 15, 2023 Portfolio Deadline: December 1, 2023 |
Creative Writing, BA* | Early Action: General Admissions: | Early Action: General Admissions: | Application: November 1, 2023 Portfolio: November 8, 2023 |
Dance, BFA* | Priority Deadline: General Deadline: February 1, 2024 | Priority Deadline: General Deadline: February 8, 2024 | Not Offered |
Film, BFA* | Priority Deadline: General Deadline: January 1, 2024 | Priority Deadline: General Deadline: January 7, 2024 | Not Offered |
Liberal Arts & Sciences** | Early Action: Rolling Admissions:
| N/A | January 3, 2024 |
Music, MusB* | Priority Deadline: December 1, 2023 General Deadline: January 1, 2024
| Priority Deadline: December 8, 2023 General Deadline: January 8, 2024
| Closed for Studio Composition and Studio Production Application: October 13, 2023 Prescreening: October 20, 2023 |
Theatre Design/Technology, BFA* | February 26, 2024 | March 1, 2024 | Not Offered |
*Please visit the linked program information page to view additional deadlines and requirements. Deadlines and portfolio submission requirements may be updated at anytime.
**We review applications on a rolling basis, and will review applications until our incoming class is full. Students are encouraged to apply and complete their application early in the application cycle.