IIT vs. Purdue

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology 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.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology 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 IIT based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 8,834 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

IIT vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT 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 IIT ($13,722 vs. $24,796).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 26.1% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($12,820 vs. $17,356).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is 424.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $42,394 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81.9% higher at IIT than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $23,592 more per year; $52,386.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Purdue University Main Campus (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 294.4% larger than aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students ($44,547 vs. $11,294).

IIT vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT 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 IIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 30 points higher than at IIT (1310).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at IIT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • IIT has a higher acceptance rate (54.9%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

IIT vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT 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 Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $18,100 more per year than Purdue graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $61,200), 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 IIT graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IIT graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More IIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purdue students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.