DePauw vs. Purdue

Deciding between DePauw 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.

DePauw University
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DePauw Greencastle, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • DePauw Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • DePauw 1,917
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • DePauw Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DePauw #99
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DePauw United Methodist
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • DePauw Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DePauw
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DePauw $59,070
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DePauw $59,070
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • DePauw $15,330
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • DePauw $31,411
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DePauw $42,909
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DePauw 99%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DePauw 6,683
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • DePauw 3,822
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DePauw 57.2%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • DePauw 13.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DePauw 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • DePauw 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • DePauw 3.97
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DePauw A
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • DePauw Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • DePauw Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • DePauw 28/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • DePauw 1200/1410
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DePauw Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • DePauw Feb 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DePauw 10:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DePauw
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DePauw 85%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DePauw $61,000
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DePauw 80%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DePauw $25,588
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DePauw $264
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DePauw 50%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • DePauw 50%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DePauw Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • DePauw No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • DePauw 71%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • DePauw 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • DePauw 5%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • DePauw 4%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • DePauw 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DePauw 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DePauw 7%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • DePauw 8%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DePauw 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DePauw 40%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DePauw 41%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DePauw University in Greencastle, IN 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 DePauw based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 1,917 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DePauw University is located in Greencastle, IN (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • DePauw 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: DePauw University 10:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

DePauw vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DePauw 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 DePauw ($13,722 vs. $31,411).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 16.4% lower than at DePauw University ($12,820 vs. $15,330).
  • DePauw University is 491.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $49,078 more per year; $59,070.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 105.1% higher at DePauw than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $30,276 more per year; $59,070.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DePauw University than at Purdue University Main Campus (99% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DePauw University students is 279.9% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($42,909 vs. $11,294).

DePauw vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DePauw 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 DePauw.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at DePauw (1310).
  • Incoming DePauw students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Purdue (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePauw University 1200/1410; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: DePauw University 28/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DePauw - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DePauw Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DePauw students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • DePauw has a higher acceptance rate (57.2%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at DePauw vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

DePauw vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DePauw 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).

  • DePauw University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $200 more per year than DePauw graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $61,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $4,088 lower median loan debt than DePauw graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,588).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DePauw graduates ($222 vs. $264).
  • More DePauw graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.