DePaul vs. Purdue

Deciding between DePaul 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.

DePaul University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePaul Chicago, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • DePaul Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • DePaul 21,210
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • DePaul Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePaul #253
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePaul Roman Catholic
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • DePaul Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePaul
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePaul $45,999
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • DePaul $19,095
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • DePaul $34,135
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePaul $29,285
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePaul 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePaul 31,266
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • DePaul 23,729
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePaul 75.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • DePaul 10.8%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePaul 1240
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePaul 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePaul 3.8
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePaul A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePaul Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePaul
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • DePaul 25/31
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • DePaul 1140/1330
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePaul Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • DePaul Feb 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePaul 17:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePaul
    • Business (33%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePaul 66%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePaul $56,900
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePaul 62%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePaul $23,332
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePaul $241
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePaul 45%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • DePaul 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePaul High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePaul No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • DePaul 55%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • DePaul 8%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • DePaul 8%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePaul 18%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • DePaul 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePaul 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePaul 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • DePaul 3%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePaul 4%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePaul 64%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePaul 32%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePaul 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 DePaul based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 21,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePaul University is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • DePaul 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: DePaul University 17:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

DePaul vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePaul 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 DePaul ($13,722 vs. $34,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 32.9% lower than at DePaul University ($12,820 vs. $19,095).
  • DePaul University is 360.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $36,007 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 59.8% higher at DePaul than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $17,205 more per year; $45,999.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePaul University than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePaul University students is 159.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($29,285 vs. $11,294).

DePaul vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePaul 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 DePaul.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 100 points higher than at DePaul (1240).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at DePaul).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 1140/1330; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePaul University 25/31; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePaul - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePaul Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePaul students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • DePaul has a higher acceptance rate (75.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.8% at DePaul vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

DePaul vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePaul 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 DePaul University's (66%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than DePaul graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $1,832 lower median loan debt than DePaul graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,332).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DePaul graduates ($222 vs. $241).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DePaul students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 62%)

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.