Bradley vs. Purdue

Deciding between Bradley University and Purdue University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bradley University
Purdue University Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bradley Peoria, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Bradley Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Bradley 4,777
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Bradley Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bradley #192
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bradley -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Bradley Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bradley
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bradley $42,160
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bradley $42,160
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Bradley $13,500
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Bradley $23,787
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bradley $30,808
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bradley 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bradley 9,458
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Bradley 7,260
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bradley 76.8%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Bradley 11.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bradley 1200
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bradley 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bradley 3.83
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bradley A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bradley Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bradley
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bradley 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Bradley 1090/1300
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bradley Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Bradley
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bradley 11:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bradley
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bradley 75%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bradley $56,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bradley 75%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bradley $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bradley $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bradley 45%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Bradley 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bradley Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bradley No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Bradley 64%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Bradley 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Bradley 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bradley 6%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Bradley 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bradley 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bradley 1%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Bradley 1%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bradley 20%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bradley 87%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bradley 11%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bradley Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bradley No
  • Purdue No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bradley Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bradley No
  • Purdue No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bradley No
  • Purdue Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Bradley University in Peoria, IL with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Bradley based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 4,777 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bradley University is located in Peoria, IL (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Bradley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bradley University 11:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Bradley vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or Purdue? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Bradley ($13,722 vs. $23,787).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 5% lower than at Bradley University ($12,820 vs. $13,500).
  • Bradley University is 321.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $32,168 more per year; $42,160.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46.4% higher at Bradley than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $13,366 more per year; $42,160.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bradley University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 172.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($30,808 vs. $11,294).

Bradley vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bradley or Purdue? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purdue and Bradley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 140 points higher than at Bradley (1200).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Bradley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bradley University 1090/1300; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bradley University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bradley - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Bradley has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Bradley vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Bradley vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bradley and Purdue? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Bradley University's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Bradley graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $56,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Bradley graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bradley graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bradley students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.