Centre College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Centre College 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.

Centre College
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Centre College Danville, KY
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Centre College Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Centre College 1,404
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Centre College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Centre College #147
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Centre College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Centre College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Centre College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Centre College $52,820
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Centre College $52,820
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Centre College $14,640
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Centre College $23,860
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Centre College $44,015
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Centre College 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Centre College 3,747
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Centre College 2,037
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Centre College 54.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Centre College 19.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Centre College 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Centre College 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Centre College 3.62
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Centre College A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Centre College Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Centre College Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Centre College 25/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Centre College 1160/1450
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Centre College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Centre College Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Centre College 10:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Centre College
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • History (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Centre College 82%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Centre College $52,500
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Centre College 79%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Centre College $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Centre College $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Centre College 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Centre College 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Centre College Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Centre College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Centre College 78%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Centre College 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Centre College 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Centre College 3%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Centre College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Centre College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Centre College 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Centre College 7%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Centre College 1%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Centre College 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Centre College 38%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Centre College in Danville, KY 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 Centre College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,404 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Centre College is located in Danville, KY (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Centre College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Centre College 10:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Centre College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centre College 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 Centre College ($13,722 vs. $23,860).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 12.4% lower than at Centre College ($12,820 vs. $14,640).
  • Centre College is 428.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $42,828 more per year; $52,820.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 83.4% higher at Centre College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $24,026 more per year; $52,820.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centre College than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Centre College students is 289.7% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($44,015 vs. $11,294).

Centre College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centre College 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 Centre College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at Centre College (1310).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Centre College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Centre College 1160/1450; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Centre College 25/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Centre College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Centre College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Centre College (3.62).
  • Centre College has a higher acceptance rate (54.4%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Centre College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Centre College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centre College 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).

  • Centre College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than Centre College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $52,500), 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 Centre College graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Centre College graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Centre College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.