Cornell College vs. Purdue

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell College
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Cornell College Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell College 1,094
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Cornell College Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell College #483
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell College United Methodist
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Cornell College Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell College
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell College $52,660
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell College $52,660
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell College $11,850
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell College $25,220
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell College $41,092
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell College 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell College 2,522
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Cornell College 2,015
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell College 79.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell College 14.3%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell College 1200
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell College 26
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell College 3.53
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell College A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell College Challenging
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell College
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell College 23/30
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell College 1120/1285
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell College Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell College
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell College 14:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell College
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell College 70%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell College $45,400
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell College 74%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell College $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell College $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell College 54%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Cornell College 46%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell College Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cornell College No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Cornell College 66%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell College 3%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Cornell College 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell College 13%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell College 1%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell College 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell College 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell College 3%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell College 7%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell College 28%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell College 68%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA 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 Cornell College based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,094 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, IA (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Cornell 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: Cornell College 14:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Cornell College vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell College ($13,722 vs. $25,220).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cornell College are 7.6% lower than at Purdue University Main Campus ($11,850 vs. $12,820).
  • Cornell College is 427% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $42,668 more per year; $52,660.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 82.9% higher at Cornell College than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $23,866 more per year; $52,660.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell College than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell College students is 263.8% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($41,092 vs. $11,294).

Cornell College vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 140 points higher than at Cornell College (1200).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at Cornell College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell College 1120/1285; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell College 23/30; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell College - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman Purdue students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Cornell College (3.53).
  • Cornell College has a higher acceptance rate (79.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Cornell College vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Cornell College vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than Cornell College graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $45,400), 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 Cornell College graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cornell College graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.