IU vs. Purdue

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Purdue University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, 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 IU based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 48,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

IU vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 IU ($13,722 vs. $17,270).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 8.3% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($12,820 vs. $13,984).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $2,152 more per year; $12,144.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at IU than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $13,097 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at Purdue University Main Campus (73% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($11,294 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 50 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU 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: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Accepted freshman IU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

IU vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($21,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($222 vs. $232).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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.