Earlham vs. Purdue

Deciding between Earlham 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.

Earlham College
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Earlham 753
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Earlham
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Earlham Friends
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Earlham
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Earlham $13,985
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Earlham $27,107
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Earlham $40,618
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Earlham 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Earlham 2,075
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Earlham 1,517
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Earlham 1200
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Earlham 28
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Earlham 3.67
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Earlham A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Earlham Difficult
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Earlham Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Earlham 24/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Earlham Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Earlham 7:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Earlham 66%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Earlham $39,100
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Earlham 75%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Earlham $26,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Earlham $268
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Earlham 47%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Earlham 53%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Earlham High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Earlham No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Earlham 51%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Earlham 5%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Earlham 12%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Earlham 6%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Earlham 1%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Earlham 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Earlham 0%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Earlham 22%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Earlham 2%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Earlham 39%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Earlham 41%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Earlham College in Richmond, 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 Earlham based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Earlham 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: Earlham College 7:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Earlham vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham 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 Earlham ($13,722 vs. $27,107).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 8.3% lower than at Earlham College ($12,820 vs. $13,985).
  • Earlham College is 439.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $43,938 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.3% higher at Earlham than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $25,136 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 259.6% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($40,618 vs. $11,294).

Earlham vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham 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 Earlham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 140 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Earlham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Earlham students have the same average high school GPA (3.67) as students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Earlham vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham 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 Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $22,100 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $39,100), 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 Earlham graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Earlham graduates ($222 vs. $268).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Earlham students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.