Calvin College vs. Purdue

Should I go to Calvin College or Purdue University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Calvin College or Purdue is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Calvin College vs. Purdue University Main Campus comparison
Calvin College Purdue University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Calvin College Purdue University Main Campus
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Overview

Calvin College Purdue
Location Grand Rapids, MI West Lafayette, IN
Setting Midsize City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 3,231 51,528
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #284 #101
Religious Affiliation Christian Reformed Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calvin.edu purdue.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Calvin College Purdue
Tuition (In State) $38,370 $9,718
Tuition (Out of State) $38,370 $28,520
Room & Board $11,150 $10,030
Avg Net Price $25,775 $12,576
Avg Grant Aid $26,448 $8,950
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 48%

Admission

Calvin College Purdue
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,079 68,582
Admitted 3,027 36,146
Acceptance Rate 74.2% 52.7%
Enrolled % 20.4% 26.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/30 27/34
SAT Range 1120/1370 1200/1470
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Calvin College Purdue
% Men 46% 58%
% Women 54% 42%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 65%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 10% 17%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Calvin College Purdue
% In-State 51% 46%
% Out-of-State 33% 44%

Campus

Calvin College Purdue
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Calvin College based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 3,231 students)

Calvin College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Calvin College or Purdue?

  • Calvin College is 294.8% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($38,370.00 vs. $9,718.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 34.5% higher at Calvin College than Purdue University Main Campus ($38,370.00 vs. $28,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Calvin College ($12,576 vs. $25,775)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 11.2% lower than costs at Calvin College ($10,030 vs. $11,150)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Calvin College than Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Calvin College students is 195.5% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($26,448 vs. $8,950)

Calvin College vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Calvin College or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or Calvin College .

  • The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 29 points higher than at Calvin College (1202)
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Calvin College (27)
  • Accepted freshman Calvin College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Purdue (3.67)
  • Calvin College has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Purdue (52.7%)

Calvin College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Calvin College or Purdue? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue and Calvin College.

  • The graduation rate at Calvin College is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (77% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $14,200 more per year than Calvin College graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $47,000)
  • Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $4,949 lower median federal student loan debt than Calvin College graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,449)
  • Purdue graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Calvin College graduates. ($222 vs. $273)
  • More Calvin College 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/