First Year
You’re a First Year Student If…
You plan to enter Purchase College in the fall or spring after graduating high school.
You have never received college credit since leaving high school, regardless of your age.
Have More Questions? Let Us Know.
1. Apply Online
SUNY Application Common Application
2. Check Deadlines and Additional Requirements
Several majors at Purchase have their own specialized instructions and deadlines. Please review carefully.
Liberal Arts and Sciences BA/BS Programs
Excludes Creative Writing | Includes undecided/undeclared
No additional talent assessments, such as portfolios or auditions, are required.
Fall 2025 Early Action | Fall 2025 General | Spring 2025 |
| November 15, 2024 | April 1, 2025 (Recommended) | January 3, 2025 |
Anthropology
Art History
Arts Management
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Cinema and Television Studies
Communications
Economics
English and Global Literatures
Environmental Studies
Gender Studies
General Studies
Global Studies
History
Journalism
Language and Culture
Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
Law and Justice Studies
Liberal Arts
Mathematics/Computer Science
Media Studies
New Media
Philosophy and Critical Thought
Playwriting and Screenwriting
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Majors Requiring Talent Assessment
The programs below each have their own deadlines and requirements.
Deadlines
Applications for Fall 2025 are closed.
Please check back around mid-October to see the deadlines and requirements for Fall 2026 entry.
| Fall Application | Portfolio Submission | Early Action and Spring |
| December 20, 2024 | December 27, 2024 | Not Available |
Callbacks are offered on a rolling basis—the sooner you submit your materials, the better.
Deadlines
| Fall Priority Application | Priority Portfolio Submission |
| November 15, 2024 | December 1, 2024 |
| Fall General Application | General Portfolio Submission |
| February 15, 2025 | February 22, 2025 |
| Spring Application* | Portfolio Submission |
| November 15, 2024 | December 1, 2024 |
*Spring open to transfers only. Graphic Design not available.
Deadlines
| Fall Application | Portfolio Submission | Early Action |
| Extended to April 7, 2025 | Extended to April 14, 2025 | Not Available |
| Spring Application | Portfolio Submission |
| November 1, 2024 | November 8, 2024 |
Deadlines
| Fall Application | Portfolio Submission | Early Action and Spring |
| February 1, 2025 | February 7, 2025 | Not Available |
Deadlines
| Fall Application | Portfolio Submission | Early Action and Spring |
| January 1, 2026 | January 7, 2026 | Not Available |
Deadlines
Please be aware that while the deadline for Music has passed, applications submitted after this date will continue to be accepted and will be reviewed periodically, as openings occur. We would encourage you to complete your Music Pre-Screening Submission as soon as possible. Music Pre-Screening Submissions will be reviewed periodically by our Conservatory of Music faculty. Students will be notified if openings into the Conservatory of Music open up, and of any next steps by email.
| Fall Application | Pre-Screening Submission | Early Action |
Extended: Rolling Admissions** | Extended: Rolling Admissions** | Not Available |
| Spring Application** | Pre-Screening Submission |
| October 14, 2024 | October 21, 2024 |
**Fall Applications: Jazz Studies, Instrumental Performance, Voice and Opera Studies, and Classical Composition majors ONLY. No Studio Production or Studio Composition.
Spring Applications Jazz Studies, Instrumental Performance, Voice and Opera Studies, and Classical Composition majors ONLY. No Studio Production or Studio Composition.
Deadlines
| Fall Application | Portfolio Submission | Early Action and Spring |
| March 1, 2025 | March 7, 2025 | Not Available |
3. Check Your Email
Upon receiving your application, we’ll send a confirmation via email and additional instructions for completing the application process.
Note: The Admissions Office uses email as our main source of communication for important updates, including application status notifications. If you are providing your school email, please be aware of any policies your high school has that may restrict our messages from reaching you.
4. What You’ll Need
Freshmen are required to submit a high school transcript. You should request your transcript from your school counselor. Transfer students must submit a high school transcript if they have completed less than 24 college credits. Official transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail to Purchase College.
Mail to:
Purchase College, SUNY
Office of Admissions
735 Anderson Hill Rd
Purchase, NY 10577
Email to: admissions@purchase.edu
We require one letter of recommendation for each applicant. However, some programs require multiple letters. Check your specific program for details.
For students who applied using the SUNY application, you will need to submit the Purchase Supplemental form. Please note that you will receive an email with your username and password once Purchase College has received your SUNY application.
Purchase Freshmen Supplemental
First-year applicants are not required to submit test scores (with exceptions). If students choose to have their scores sent, they can come on their high school transcript or from the testing agency directly.
Some exceptions apply, so please review the policy before finalizing your application.
5. Additional Information
Homeschool
We understand that homeschool transcripts and application materials may differ from those of traditional high school students. To ensure a fair evaluation, homeschooled applicants should provide as much detail as possible about their curriculum, including course descriptions, texts used, and skill levels achieved. Required materials include a transcript through grade 11, official SAT/ACT scores, a detailed curriculum outline, and at least one letter of recommendation (from someone other than a parent). Applicants must also submit documentation demonstrating their program’s equivalence to a high school education, such as a GED, 24 college credits, or other qualifying evidence.
For complete details, please refer to the full policy: Homeschool • Admissions • Purchase College. You may also contact the Office of Admissions if you would like to discuss your academic preparation in more detail.
High School Equivalency Diplomas
Purchase College welcomes applications from students who completed a GED/TASC.
- An official GED diploma with a minimum total score of 660 is required for consideration, with a minimum score of 165 in all four Core Subjects. To obtain an official GED diploma, visit the GED website. We will not evaluate an applicant’s file with a photocopy of the GED.
- An official TASC with a minimum score of 500 in each subject is required for consideration. To obtain an official TASC diploma, visit the TASC website.
- An interview may be required of all GED/TASC applicants. Scheduling information will be sent to students once the application has been processed if an interview is needed.
- We also encourage all GED applicants to take the SAT or ACT and submit their official scores to the Office of Admissions.
Access & Accommodations
Information regarding a disability is not considered during the application review or admission decision process. All applicants must meet the same academic and technical qualifications for admission to Purchase College, SUNY, as outlined by the program’s requirements.
Applicants must demonstrate evidence of the academic preparation necessary to succeed in their chosen curriculum. An IEP diploma is not equivalent to a local diploma or GED and is not considered for admission. Students with an IEP diploma are advised to complete the GED exam and achieve a score of 2500 or higher to be considered for admission.
When a student seeks reasonable accommodations, each student’s needs are assessed on an individual basis by the Office of Disability Resources. Please visit our Disability Resources website for more information.
For more information, please see the Admissions Policy on Access and Accommodations.
Narrative Transcripts
Students that will not receive traditional alphanumeric grades during their time in high school are asked to submit their test scores for application review. Please review our Test Optional Policy guidelines here for further information.
6. Next Steps
More Information
If Purchase College is your first choice, you’re invited to apply as an Early Action candidate. Early Action is a non-binding early application/notification program for fall Liberal Arts and Sciences first year students.
You may apply Early Action for most BA/BS programs and the School of Art+Design programs.
Early Action is not an option if you’re interested in Acting, Dance, Music, Film, or Theatre Design/Technology.
Admissions interviews are not mandatory, but we do offer you the opportunity to have an interview with one of our admissions counselors.
An interview allows you to tell us more about yourself than you can typically express in a written application, and may help the admissions committee make a more informed decision about your enrollment.
To schedule an interview, call the Admissions Office at 914-251-6300. Interview appointments are generally available on weekdays throughout the year. You should schedule an interview after you have submitted an application for admission.
Decisions for most programs are made on a rolling basis; first year applicants who meet our deadlines will be notified of their admission status no later than April 1.
We know you are so much more than a test score. We believe that allowing you to choose whether or not to submit test scores demonstrates our commitment to a holistic review of applicants and our embrace of unique qualities and talents that predict success beyond traditional markers.
We’ll still need test scores from some, however. You’re required to submit test scores if you fall into the categories below:
- Applicants who are homeschooled
- International students need to provide a Duolingo, IELTS, or TOEFL score
- Applicants who attended secondary schools that provide only narrative evaluations rather than some form of grading scale
Students are welcome to consult with an admissions advisor about their test-optional decision by emailing admissions@purchase.edu, calling (914) 251-6300, or texting (914) 290-5557.
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
- One year of Foreign language
- Three years of Mathematics
- Four years of 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.