CSU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Chicago State 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.

Chicago State University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chicago, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • CSU Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 2,238
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #814
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $12,754
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $11,550
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $10,441
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $18,194
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 10,638
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • CSU 4,602
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 43.3%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 3.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 860
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 17
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.18
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Extremely Easy
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 15/19
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 750/963
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 21%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $38,300
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 25%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $31,250
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $323
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 30%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • CSU 70%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU Very Low
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • CSU 3%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 1%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • CSU 75%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 8%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 0%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • CSU 2%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 12%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 70%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 28%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Chicago State University in Chicago, 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 CSU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Chicago State University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Chicago State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Chicago State University 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

CSU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU 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 Chicago State University than Purdue ($10,441 vs. $13,722).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chicago State University are 9.9% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($11,550 vs. $12,820).
  • Chicago State University is 27.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $2,762 more per year; $12,754.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 125.8% higher at Purdue than at Chicago State University (about $16,040 more per year; $28,794.00 vs. $12,754.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chicago State University than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Chicago State University students is 61.1% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($18,194 vs. $11,294).

CSU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 480 points higher than at CSU (860).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 13 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 17 at CSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 750/963; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Chicago State University 15/19; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at CSU (3.18).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than CSU (43.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.8% at CSU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

CSU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU 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).

  • Purdue University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Chicago State University's (21%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $22,900 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $9,750 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($21,500 vs. $31,250).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($222 vs. $323).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 25%)

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.