Denison vs. Purdue

Deciding between Denison 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.

Denison University
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Denison University in Granville, OH 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 Denison based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Denison 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: Denison University 9:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Denison vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison 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 Denison ($13,722 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 21.8% lower than at Denison University ($12,820 vs. $16,400).
  • Denison University is 570.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $57,008 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 132.7% higher at Denison than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $38,206 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Purdue University Main Campus (94% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Denison University students is 238% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($38,179 vs. $11,294).

Denison vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Denison University (1410) is 70 points higher than at Purdue (1340).
  • Incoming Denison students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Purdue).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Purdue has a higher acceptance rate (49.9%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Denison vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison 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).

  • Denison University's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Denison graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $56,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Denison graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Denison graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Denison graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.