Calvin University vs. Purdue

Deciding between Calvin 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.

Calvin University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Calvin University Midsize City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Calvin University 3,681
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Calvin University Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Calvin University #299
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Calvin University Christian Reformed Church
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Calvin University Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Calvin University
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Calvin University $39,350
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Calvin University $39,350
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Calvin University $12,120
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Calvin University $25,231
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Calvin University $29,123
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Calvin University 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Calvin University 5,723
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Calvin University 4,058
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Calvin University 70.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Calvin University 21.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Calvin University 1210
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Calvin University 27
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Calvin University 3.84
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Calvin University A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Calvin University Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Calvin University Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Calvin University 24/30
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Calvin University 1083/1330
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Calvin University Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Calvin University
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Calvin University 13:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Calvin University
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Calvin University 77%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Calvin University $47,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Calvin University 81%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Calvin University $26,449
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Calvin University $273
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Calvin University 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Calvin University 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Calvin University Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Calvin University No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Calvin University 74%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Calvin University 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Calvin University 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Calvin University 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Calvin University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Calvin University 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Calvin University 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Calvin University 10%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Calvin University 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Calvin University 62%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Calvin University 24%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI 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 Calvin University based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 3,681 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Calvin University is located in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Calvin 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: Calvin University 13:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Calvin University vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Calvin University 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 Calvin University ($13,722 vs. $25,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Calvin University are 5.5% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($12,120 vs. $12,820).
  • Calvin University is 293.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $29,358 more per year; $39,350.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.7% higher at Calvin University than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $10,556 more per year; $39,350.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Calvin University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Calvin University students is 157.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($29,123 vs. $11,294).

Calvin University vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Calvin University 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 Calvin University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 130 points higher than at Calvin University (1210).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 27 at Calvin University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Calvin University 1083/1330; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Calvin University 24/30; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Calvin University - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Calvin University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Calvin University has a higher acceptance rate (70.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at Calvin University vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Calvin University vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Calvin University 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).

  • Calvin University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than Calvin University graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $47,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $4,949 lower median loan debt than Calvin University graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,449).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Calvin University graduates ($222 vs. $273).
  • More Calvin University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 78%)

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.